“I didn’t work as a security guard.” He’s been fighting since 1999 and staying in the UFC – stories from an MMA veteran

Of all the Russian fighters who currently have a contract with the UFC, few made their league debut before Shamil Abdurahimov. The heavyweight entered the promotion in April 2015 and lost outright to Tim Johnson, a man who, in top form, can be a problem for anyone. Abdurahimov spent 10 fights in the UFC, won exactly half of them. More often than not, the Russian stumbled on future highs. For example, in 2016 Shamil fought Derrick Lewis, looked good, but got tagged in the fourth round:

– On the first hit, I broke my left arm and had to fight, although I could have killed him on my hands. And already during the battle an old injury to the collarbone appeared. I had to do more things I wasn’t ready for, instead of boxing on my hands. And from there I functionally went…

And in 2019, Curtis Blaydes was taken to the ground and very badly smashed Shamil’s head with his elbow.

– It was hard with Curtis, but my preparation was a little bad. There were no training partners, problems arose. There was no one who could help me approach this fight.

I think if I had prepared for his fight, for his tactics… He caught me at the net, it’s clear that they were preparing for it, and then, when the commotion started, it was already hard.

Abdurahimov might surprise people who stereotypically think of Dagestan, believing that in the Republic there is only freestyle wrestling. Shamil was born in Buynaksk, where a very strong school of percussion martial arts has existed for several decades. That’s why Derrick Lewis wanted to be killed on his hands, and Curtis Blades was tough to fight.

– From the sixth grade I went to boxing, then my weight increased sharply, and we had a new sport: wushu-sanda. I moved there and in 1999, at the age of 18, I participated in the World Championships. I went to Bangkok with the national team, but due to the fact that my data was not filled there, I was not allowed to compete. It seems that they did not put + in my weight category, because already at that age I weighed about 95 kg and fought in heavyweight. He returned and from 20 to 27 he did not fight anywhere, did not participate in any competition. I tried to earn money somewhere, but I didn’t have such a job, right in the civil service, so I didn’t have it all the time. I didn’t work in security on principle, I didn’t want to. Continued to train five times a week

One day I watched television and saw that they [бойцы ММА] do the same. I mean, I can do the same.

It was freestyle wrestling that I started doing, already when I had to fight against Jeff Monson (2010, two years after the start of my career, Abdurahimov’s record is 9-1. – ” “). I have a relative, he is a very good wrestler, so he trained me. And he had mastered painful techniques much earlier. I have a brother two years older than me. We watched tapes with fights. Oleg Taktarov, Marco Ruas also fought there. And then they fought with him, well, in childhood. And me, not knowing how it’s done, I did something to him, and he fell asleep. The mother came running, did not understand what was happening. Angry with me. And the brother came to his senses and was delighted that the reception had taken place.

In fact, our mother, a market trader, made us athletes. They did not live richly, but everything was always at the highest level. She had a shop not far from the house, she sold vegetables, fruit, and we were always full.

In 2010-2011, Abdurahimov quietly won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix tournament and earned $275,000. A mighty sum for such a tournament and at this time. Shamil says it’s not very good when people find out you made a lot of money. In the best case, you can quickly invest in an apartment.

The fighter entered the UFC against a backdrop of family drama: his mother died. To distract from his heavy thoughts, Abdurahimov fought with Kenny Garner in the M-1 tournament. Won, and the manager found a way to sign a contract with the UFC. For the first fight, the fee was 14 + 14 thousand dollars – very good conditions for 2016.

Why are you fighting now at 41?

– So what to do? I’ve done that all my life, I haven’t done any other job either. You have to go out and make some money. Somewhere there used to be ambitions… Now there are too, but I think it’s time to calm down slowly, to go in another direction. The houses are already waiting.

Anyway, finance is the main thing for everyone. I don’t think anyone in Russia will pay me that kind of money.

– And who watches your fights at home?

Father, brothers. The female sex, I think, does not look. Live.

– You have three losses in a row – can you be fired if you lose for the fourth time?

There was no such conversation with the director. I was offered a fight – I left. We will see. I have two other fights under my contract, including this one.

– You fought with Sergey Pavlovich in March and became one of the three people Sergey defeated earlier than expected in the past year. Today, Pavlovich is called the discovery of 2022. Are you okay with that?

– All heavyweights hit hard, I just missed the moment somewhere. There was nothing like he finished me off, knocked me out, I saw it all. Maybe you could try somersaulting. But he’s fine, there are good guns. Health is so rich. That’s right, while he just hits everyone.

– What do you think, who will become the champion in your weight, Jon Jones and Cyril Gun are fighting there now?

“I bet 70/30 on Jones. He hasn’t fought in a long time, that’s the question. And so I think he’s going to hang around in the fight. It seems to me that the Americans are professionals, when they prepare for battle, everyone does their thing. I think he will be ready.

– There is no champion in your weight at the moment. Francis Ngannou did not fight for a year and eventually refused to fight in the UFC.

– I did not watch it much – for me it was unexpected news. I don’t know what prompted him to leave. Maybe some suggestions from other organizations. He wants to earn money to “pear” in his old age.

– Why?

– Well, juice. Such a joke. No, well, it’s the kind of sport where young people come and go. Maybe there are better deals, so he wants to make money while being on top.

Do you think Ngannou is the most dangerous heavyweight in the world or even the most dangerous person in the world in a street fight?

– Well, what can I say, if he has already spoken for himself, showed. You have all seen who he is. He became champion, defended the title. We didn’t see any further than his fights, but after all he was at that peak, so it’s not for me to judge, but every person, where and how he is, he shows it. We know he was the best.

– Who do you think could give him the toughest fight?

I think it’s John Jones. Of course, he had not fought for a long time, but judging by the skills he showed in the category up to 93 kg, he would have moved to the stalls and found a way. But heavyweight – crazy hits … Well, not crazy, but heavy. It ruins all plans.

On February 22, Shamil Abdurahimov (20-7) will face Gilton Almeida (17-2) at UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro.