On September 11, around 5 a.m. Moscow time, a Moldovan Ion Mignonlaba (16-7-1-1) will fight a very funny fighter Johnny Walker (18-7). Russian fans might remember Kutselaba from the win over Gadzhimurad Antigulov or the loss to Magomed Ankalaev in 2020. Before the fight with Ankalaev, Kutselaba said provocatively: “He has no power kicks They’re not legs – they’re kind of wings. But now Ion doesn’t have very good stats…
– You have a victory in your last five fights, but you always press the opponent very hard before the fight. Will everything be the same?
– Yes, the statistics do not change anything: there are bad days, there are good ones. If I change, I will first feel insecure, so I will not change for people, there will be no: “Here, I lost, I have to change, because people will speak bad”. I don’t have that in mind. If I change, it will be for my own reasons.
– You fight Johnny Walker, he’s a very positive guy – will you grab his neck at the weigh-in or make a move when you seem to be slitting his throat?
– I won’t grab him by the neck, because the UFC doesn’t allow it anymore. But something is going to be interesting, because the fight interests me: Johnny is well known, he is a promising guy. It will be cool both at the weigh-in and in the fight.
– And how were you informed that you could not touch your opponent at the weigh-in?
– UFC says now you can’t touch opponents [на дуэли взглядов], and it also started after me, after my weigh-in with Jacoby. They said – everything, restriction.
– What is the penalty?
– Disqualification … for a fight, not for a while. And something else. It’s not to be taken lightly, if they said so, then they can do it.
– You had two fights against Magomed Ankalaev, in one, as you said, there was an untimely stoppage: the referee felt that you were not pretending, but really knocked down. In the second, Magomed won. What are your impressions of Ankalaev?
– What did you think? Only the good ones – he’s a good guy, he did his job to the fullest. We recently fought with him as he prepared for the fight with Smith. There are such things… I can’t keep bad words about Ankalaev, because I lost. What is it is that we have such a sport.
– How did you start to communicate when you saw each other in the lobby? Just come say hello?
– Yes, I don’t even remember – as always. We just respect each other.
– Ankalaev will become the light heavyweight champion (up to 93 kg) next year?
– You can become a champion. I’m just not sure next year or not because I don’t know how soon he will get a title fight.
– So you look at his skills and the skills of the current champion Jiri Prochazka and think that Magomed is stronger?
– Yes. I think he will be the champion.
– Was there anything about the fight that surprised him and what you didn’t notice in the fight?
– Yes, there is no difference: what you fight, what you fight. In combat, he didn’t knock me out – that’s the most important thing.
– But you still trained with Ngannou – didn’t you fall in fight with him?
– His blow is very strong, but to fall – he did not fall. He works quietly, he understands that sparring is sparring.
– Did you see him this time, how close is he to coming back?
– He is now in very good shape, even though he got injured. I saw him in the lobby, he’s getting ready, so I think he’ll be back soon. But as long as he doesn’t train, he gets back into shape.
– As an amateur, you fought with Azamat Murzakanov, who had his first two fights in the UFC this year and won them earlier than expected.
– It was a kind of hand-to-hand combat world championship. I didn’t even know the rules. It was just his style of sport, but I don’t deny that I lost.
Do you want revenge in the UFC?
– He had an interview where he said something like this if he wins, then I will be interesting for him, but if he loses, then no. I would say this: “If I win, I will not be interested in him.” I would be interested in someone from the top 10 or top 5.
Have you seen it now?
‘No, we haven’t seen each other, but I think he’s a very good person. The person and the athlete are very good, the striking technique is excellent.
– Is there at least one adversary that you would not respect, among those with whom you fought?
— [пауза пять секунд] No, nothing personal to anyone.
– You said that at 17 you were 170 kg bench press. Have you ever approached this figure as an adult?
I no longer lift heavy weights. It could be an injury or something. You have to work with your body weight. And I can’t even remember the last time I did a bench press. I think 3-4 years ago.
What is your weight between fights?
– I even weighed 115 kg (Kutselaba category up to 93 kg. – “”), but in recent years I think the maximum was 107 kg.
– Which fight would you choose to watch in 2023 if you were told that one of them could return: Khabib Nurmagomedov or Conor McGregor?
– Conor. I like him more as an athlete and as a person.
– Explain?
– Well, you asked me such a question, I chose – I like to follow his life, his family. I make it a rule never to offend my rival’s religion and family, these are holy things to me, but I have never criticized anyone for my opinion, for my right to life.
Do you think Jon Jones will return?
– He’s not interested in me. I don’t like him as a fighter, I don’t care if he comes back or not. Do you think I like a lot of people? No, 50% definitely not. As a person he can be very good, but I don’t know him.
Source : MatchTV

I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.