For the first time in history Mahmud Muradov (25-8 in MMA) on was told in 2019 before a fighter’s UFC debut. The first two sentences of this text looked like this:
“Ten years ago, Mahmud Muradov was an illegal worker in Russia: he slept in a room for 12 people, ate instant noodles and lived on 4,000 rubles a month.
Now Mahmoud has 11 straight wins, he lives with a popular Czech singer, he is friends with Floyd Mayweather and he is waiting for the right terms from the UFC.
It’s interesting to look back at this story, because life is different from a fairy tale: after three UFC wins, Muradov stalled, several fights were canceled for him, and he lost in two that took place. Gerald Meerschert’s defeat stands out: the fighter knocked out by Khamzat Chimaev in 17 seconds choked Muradov in two minutes. Reassuringly, Mahmoud talks about his defeats fully understanding the reasons for what happened: the advantages of the first popularity were difficult to integrate into the training program.
We speak ahead of Muradov’s bout with Brian Barbarena at the UFC on July 22. And Mahmoud says very focused: “Let’s see what shape I’ll be in now, when I’ve given up everything.” But then he laughs again talking about computer games.
– Where did you prepare for this fight: Czech Republic, Poland, Uzbekistan or Thailand?
“This time, I put all my things aside. I opened an organization, there were companies, but now I took everything away and just focus on my fight, and I trained in Poland and the Czech Republic. Was in Poland for two years.
– You won three brilliant victories, but there were two defeats. Do you yourself feel that there was a kind of deconcentration due to the fact that the first three victories brought you popularity, and with them came meetings and the opportunity to do something else?
– Of course, various activities began, I began to organize tournaments. Everywhere I wouldn’t be physically enough, I didn’t have time, I was trying to be in tournaments, but there were other projects. Now I understand what the mistake is, I realized that somewhere I didn’t finish it, but now let’s see what will happen in London.
– What did you say to yourself when, after the last lost fight, you came to the locker room?
– They don’t immediately take you to the dressing room there, first you go to the doctor for an examination, then do a check-up and go to the hotel. The first thing I thought about was why I even went to the pass on lap three. Apparently, I just wanted to test myself on his own territory. I thought the score was 1:1 in the rounds, but I probably lost the third round. After the fight I didn’t feel like swinging my fists, I just knew I could do better.
– In your training camp photos, there was Bellator champion Yaroslav Amosov, about whom incredible things are said about wrestling. Tested by yourself?
Yes, yes, he fights very well. And on such a light. I have never dealt with these. He’s like a boa constrictor. Relaxed all the time, but torments you all the time. I’ve been to different countries, worked with freestyle wrestlers and other wrestlers, but the way he fights, I’ve never seen anything like it.
– So you can directly say that you have never encountered such a thing?
“Yes, you can say that. Look, even if he grabs something so much (shows a small distance between the thumb and forefinger. – “”), he will not let go, he will take everything.
Which Brian Barbarena fight was the most instructive for your coaches to prepare for?
– Yes, you know, he just likes to cut. In the last two fights that he lost, I saw that he had problems in the fight. Maybe we can fight it.
– When you come to train in Uzbekistan, do you feel like you are sparring hard because they see you as a celebrity, a UFC fighter?
– It happened many times, but you know, as they say, there is no receipt against scrap, you just have to take more scrap. It is necessary both for you and for you. If it’s easy to work with, then it’s also easy to work with. If someone wants to show off, then if they want to, why not.
— Do you know any fans from Uzbekistan or the Czech Republic who will cheer you on?
– My friends, with whom I communicate, for them I bought 28 UFC tickets. I know for sure that the guys will come from the Czech Republic. There are quite a few Uzbeks in London, we keep in touch with them. I’ll see you tomorrow, these are guys from my beloved hot Uzbekistan. To be honest, I already really want to go home to eat pilaf. Especially today (the conversation was recorded in the most difficult days of weight loss. – “”).
Did you take food with you?
“I didn’t take anything with me, I eat what I have here.” There is an Uzbek restaurant in London, but I haven’t been there yet, all of our traditional dishes are high in calories and I try to cut out those foods. And so, I’m in London for the first time, my visa was only opened yesterday.
– How?
– Yes, it’s usually difficult, you drive weight and don’t know if they will open a visa for you or not. They delivered it to me on Friday, but the courier had my passport and it wasn’t until Monday that they brought it to me.
– On one of the podcasts, you said that your computer costs around 15,000 euros. When was the last time you played?
– In DOTA”. I play Dota all the time. Last played yesterday.
Can you be recognized by your nickname?
– No. My nickname is MMM… I try not to advertise that I am a professional fighter. There’s a kid there who sometimes swears, and then I say, “Boys, come on, don’t swear and don’t swear.” And they start there: “What, why?”. I say, “Boys, I’m an adult, I just go play sometimes.” They begin to ask: what? but as ? and where do you live? And I told guys I was a UFC fighter. They don’t believe. I say, well write [социальную сеть]. They write, I reply, then they shout: “Ah, boys, it’s him in kind.”
– I heard the story of a guy who fought very well, in an online game he insulted a schoolboy. Have you ever experienced this?
– There are, yes. There are such … radishes. Who swears… swears very loudly. Who wants to pat my shoulder from behind, say, well, here I am, tell me what you wanted on my face. But in general, this is a situation where MMA does not solve.
– Do you stay in touch with Floyd Mayweather?
– Yes, we have a great relationship, he is now in Monaco, Europe. I called a meeting, said I was getting ready now.
– Did you invite him to fight in Great Britain?
– No, no, no, I don’t have any for me to say: “Come! Support!”. He himself watches, knows the tournaments. If he wants, he will call and come.
When was the last time you talked about it?
“He saw the announcement of my fight, wished me luck, wished to stay focused and win.
– You canceled about five fights with well-known opponents: Misha Tsirkunov, Abus Magomedov, Krzysztof Yotko. Which cancellation do you regret the most?
– Look, the finger is the cancellation of the fight with Tsirkunov (Muradov shows a curved middle finger, trying not to clench his fist. – “”). It’s Abuse. Also still traces (shows a big bump on his hand. – “”). Unfortunately, the arms and legs can no longer withstand the loads, but injuries are part of our job, I had problems in this camp, I can show you, look (shows a little blue finger on his leg. – “”). In fact, I broke it in the last sparring, but what to do, it’s our job, we have to fight with it. These are not excuses, you can even train easily and get injured.
– Before the pandemic, the UFC organized tournaments in Poland and the Czech Republic, would you like to fight in one of these events and do you know the tournaments in Eastern Europe?
– I would like the UFC to organize a tournament in Uzbekistan, I will fight there for free, I even said on social networks that if I fight there, I will donate all the money to charity.
How realistic can that be?
“There is already something. Maybe they will come soon. It’s really not easy to do it there, but there is already an interest both from them and from us; negotiations are underway, but it is not easy to do.
– In 2024, maybe there will be a UFC in Uzbekistan?
– Uzbekistan already has three fighters in the UFC. I would say anything is possible.
Live broadcasts of the Mixed Martial Arts tournaments can be seen on and Match! Fighter”, as well as on the sites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.
Source : MatchTV
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
