Nurmagomedov: Now Anthony Pettis go to the prelims
Khabib Nurmagomedov: “I told you he’s no true champion … His coaches say he’s Mayweather in MMA. I think it’s joke … Now Anthony Pettis go to the prelims.”
Russia’s Caucasus region is known for producing amazing wrestlers and fighters. Dagestan’s Khabib Nurmagomedov is also expert at trash talking, and something of a Nostradamus.
Weeks before UFC 185, Nurmagomedov predicted Rafael Dos Anjos would “smash” then lightweight champion Anthony Pettis both standing and on the ground. He appeared on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour recently, as explained his prophecy.
“Because I feel Rafael dos Anjos when I fight with him,” said Nurmagomedov as transcribed by Shaun Al-Shatti for MMAFighting.com. “Before fight with me, he smash five-win streak. He smash a lot of guys, smash Cowboy Cerrone too. And after me he have very good win streak, three win streak, knock out Benson Henderson. When I fight with Rafael dos Anjos, I feel he’s very strong guy, but when I say he smash Anthony Pettis, a lot of people say, ‘Khabib says trash talk.’
“But I feel this. I feel this because — you remember after UFC 181, I told you I want fight with Anthony Pettis? And you say, ‘What plan you have for Anthony Pettis?’ I told you, move forward, push him, take him down. Take him down easy, I told you. Give him hard punch. I told you better. Rafael dos Anjos make my plan with Anthony Pettis, and now I think a lot of people understand now, I am no trash talking. I say truth.”
“I think (Pettis)’s no bad fighter. But his ground, his grappling and wrestling, is zero. This is my mind. I think he’s maybe top-10. Maybe. Maybe. I think a lot of people in lightweight can beat this guy.
“You remember, I told you he’s no true champion. I told you before, Rafael dos Anjos can beat him, I can beat him, and a lot of fighters can beat him. But all the time, Dana White say he’s pound-for-pound king, he’s one of the greatest. His coaches say he’s Mayweather in MMA. I think it’s joke, you understand? Now everybody understands who is who. Rafael dos Anjos, I, and Cowboy, and Michael Johnson — these guys are top-four in lightweight division. Now Anthony Pettis go to the prelims.”
Nurmagomedov fights Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone on May 23 at UFC 187. If RDA’s knee heals in time, the winner gets a title shot.
“You know, I very much wanted this fight,” said Nurmagomedov. “When UFC gives [Pettis] Rafael dos Anjos, I understand. I understand. But no more. I understand Rafael dos Anjos smash him, and for me, I need fight versus Rafael dos Anjos. No more Anthony Pettis. Now I forget Anthony Pettis.”