LAS VEGAS – Akbar Abdullaev isn't pumping the brakes on the hype. He's accelerating it forward.
Following his devastating, UFC contract-earning victory
Tuesday at Dana White's Contender Series 92, Abdullaev (13-0) had many fans and experts reiterating their pre-fight takes that he was overqualified for the show. The performance wowed the UFC brass, with Dana White calling him perhaps the best fighter in the series' history."It was my aim, and I got it no matter which way," Abdullaev told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at a post-fight news conference. "To tell you the truth, I'm not looking for a knockout. But they come to me themselves. All of the power I have comes from God."
A proud representative of Kyrgyzstan, Abdullaev
has been working his whole life on the exact right hand he landed flush on Ednilson Santos to end their bout 19 seconds into the first round and earn a UFC contract.
"When I was a child, I was doing Thai boxing and my first coach from my small town in Russia he fixed my very strong punches and this was the entire base that I've had for my entire sports career," Abdullaev said. "... All my life I'm under this kind of pressure. Right now I'm just kind of relaxed. I don't feel any pressure."
Abdullaev, 28, entered the UFC already having competed for a major promotion. He went 5-0 in ONE Championship and was considered their uncrowned champion by many, as he schooled champion Kai Tang en route a TKO stoppage. The only issue was that Abdullaev missed weight by a pound.
Given his credentials, high-level experience, explosive DWCS win, and fan support, Abdullaev feels ready to take on all-comers – particularly the biggest names the UFC lightweight division has to offer. He even thinks he can do that right now.
"Right now, for me, it's kind of a game," Abdullaev said. "I had so much pressure before in my life that I feel great. It's kind of a game for me. ... I always knew I could fight top 10. My skills allow me to fight in the top 10 and I always knew that. ... I want to fight some famous fighters, legends like Max Holloway. I want to get the fame. That's why I need to fight over him."
Holloway, 34, now competes at lightweight, but is considered one of the greatest featherweights ever. He does not currently have a fight on the books, having most recently competed in a quick win over Conor McGregor in July.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Akbar Abdullaev sets sights on one of UFC's biggest stars for debut
