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Usman Nurmagomedov is about to return to motion on Saturday September seventh at Bellator Champion Series: San Diego, the place he’ll defend his light-weight title towards Alexander Shabliy. It’s a re-booking of a battle beforehand set for Champion Sequence: Paris in Might which was canceled attributable to an undisclosed Nurmagomedov damage.
Now Usman is revealing the precise explanation for his withdrawal: an sickness which he suspects might have been COVID-19.
“The final time once we’re getting ready for Paris, I used to be coming recent out of the month of Ramadan,” Usman told MMA Junkie by way of a translator in a brand new interview. “We needed to quick, and my physique was weak. I don’t know. Possibly it was the coronavirus, however there was one thing with my lungs so I couldn’t recuperate correctly.”
“I bought sick. And I used to be attempting to do my greatest. I used to be nonetheless attempting to battle and get the right preparation, however I simply couldn’t beat it. So sadly that battle was off, however now that’s time we ready.”
Don’t get it twisted: Usman Nurmagomedov is not any Umar Nurmagomedov, who has withdrawn from several fights over the previous 4 years. The Paris battle towards Shabliy is the primary time Usman pulled out of a battle, and he’s wanting ahead to lastly competing once more for the primary time since November 2023.
“The coaching is completed. The camp is completed. Now it’s solely weight lower, and also you’re gonna see us on September seventh. It’s gonna be in an awesome battle.”
The delay has been so lengthy as a result of Nurmagomedov failed a California commission drug test following his Bellator 300 win over Brent Primus. For some motive, the substance he popped for has by no means been disclosed by the fee, resulting in a whole lot of hypothesis and some criticism.
“Now we have a take care of California Fee, and I can not inform to media or somebody,” he mentioned. “But it surely was medicine. If it had been a steroid, they must say, ‘This was a steroid.’ And so they have to present me extra time for suspension. They’ve to present me like one 12 months, two 12 months, and we now have instance from different guys. It was medicine, and this was like nothing. The whole lot is sweet now.”
Bellator was supportive sufficient to Nurmagomedov by way of the scenario that they let him maintain the light-weight belt regardless of the drug check fail.
“I do know who I’m, I’d by no means do one thing like steroid or one thing like that,” Usman declared. “Individuals solely speak about this as a result of they can’t win towards us, they usually must say one thing. You guys, you’ll be able to speak no matter you need, however who cares?”
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