For “Shara Bullet,” practice makes perfect.
Shara Magomedov didn’t just improve his UFC record to 4-0 on Saturday, he executed a never-before-seen finish when he knocked out Armen Petrosyan with back-to-back spinning backfists in the UFC 308 main card opener.
It was the biggest moment of Magomedov’s brief run with the promotion and he elaborated on the career-best performance at the evening’s post-fight press conference.
“I used to practice this technique since my career in Muay Thai,” Magomedov said via a Russian translator. “In MMA, I was unable to throw it because I know people are going to wrestle me, but this time I fought a high-level striker and it became a chess match and I was able to surprise him in this chess match.”
Magomedov’s UFC victories now include Petrosyan, Michal Oleksiejczuk, Antonio Trocoli, and Bruno Silva. Overall, he is 15-0, with 12 of those wins coming by way of knockout.
In his post-fight interview, Magomedov declared himself the best striker in the middleweight division and called for a fight with two-time UFC champion Israel Adesanya. According to Magomedov, his pursuit of Adesanya dates back to their kickboxing days.
“I used to chase Israel Adesanya when he fought kickboxing in China and I was fighting kickboxing in China, too,” Magomedov said. “Now that he’s switched to MMA and now that I’m here, I’m ready to capture all the land. I’m ready to fight him and if the possibility presents itself, I’m ready to fight him in Macau, Saudi Arabia, it doesn’t matter.”
“I’m in no rush, I’m not driving in front of the train, you know?” Magomedov later added. “The only way for Israel Adesanya to avoid the fight with me is to retire.”
When the UFC updates its rankings Tuesday, there’s an outside shot the undefeated Magomedov ends up with a number next to his name. If he doesn’t, he has a few names in mind to keep climbing the list should the Adesanya bout fail to materialize.
“Of course, I would like to fight Israel Adesanya to prove that I’m the best striker in the division,” Magomedov said. “Also, I would like to fight Marvin Vettori to prove that my wrestling is good. Those two names really excite me. Besides them, guys like Kevin Holland, Michel Pereira. Our middleweight division is full of predators and sharks, but pirates, there’s only one: it’s me.”
from Abu Dhabi. (The gallery will update throughout Saturday's event.) #UFC308 #UFCAbuDhabi”
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