What happened to Khabib's Cousin? (Abubakar)

[CBohl]

He was supposed to debut back in February at UFC Fight Night 125 in Belem, Brazil against Sergio Moraes.


Its seems now that he joined the PFL's welterweight tournament. Fighting in July 5 against Pavel Kusch.


Someone actually turned down the UFC to fight in the PFL.

 

[LouisBolanos]

It would be stupid of him to turn down a chance to win

 

[trident]

Probably a woman involved.

 

[Diunx]

Probably a woman involved.

I don't think they have those in Dagestan.

 

[Dead Kennedy]

Visa problems maybe?

 

[Wadtucket]

He is a boring decision machine, the UFC needs no more of those

 

[clutchCAT420]

U fc and dana are cheap

 

[Otto!]

It’s the big shark in the small pool vs small shark in a big pool question.

 

[sabretitan]

I don't think they have those in Dagestan.

Mountainwomen

 

[DarkneT]

Do we really want more Russians in the UFC?

Who cares

MURICA

 

[Aluminati]

I don't think they have those in Dagestan.

In Soviet Russia, woman is bear.

 

[Sakuraba7]

I don't think he turned it down, they wouldn't have announced the signing then. He likely opted out (changed his mind).

UFC does have a problem of offering very few fights to Russian based fighters, usually only once a year even when there's no injury/visa issues involved. PFL provides the opportunity of far more fights, and as a result better pay.

There's a chance he opted out because of that especially with the million dollar cash prizes that PFL if offering. UFC really needs to give those guys more fights. Mairbek had 1 fight last year despite numerous overseas cards they could have put him on and he was never once injured. They did the same thing with Sultan Aliev. Then you have guys like Antigulov who did get injured, but unlike US fighters who get rescheduled these guys end up still fighting once a year compared to the 2-3 bouts that Americans and Brazilians get.

 

[Feniamin]

He was supposed to debut back in February at UFC Fight Night 125 in Belem, Brazil against Sergio Moraes.


Its seems now that he joined the PFL's welterweight tournament. Fighting in July 5 against Pavel Kusch.


Someone actually turned down the UFC to fight in the PFL.

At least on one Russian mma website I've seen info that Abubakar never was officially signed/UFC never said that they signed him.

 

[Toco]

no USADA and 1 million dollars? hell yeah

 

[flowoftruth]

What division does Omar fight at

 

[Sakuraba7]

At least on one Russian mma website I've seen info that Abubakar never was officially signed/UFC never said that they signed him.

There was definitely media reports of the signing, and even Khabib confirmed it back then and later even a fight announcement that didn't end up materializing.
http://www.punditarena.com/mma/ccun...signed-his-13-1-cousin-abubakar-nurmagomedov/

 

[Feniamin]

There was definitely media reports of the signing, and even Khabib confirmed it back then and later even a fight announcement that didn't end up happening.

http://www.punditarena.com/mma/ccun...signed-his-13-1-cousin-abubakar-nurmagomedov/

I think UFC never confirmed it. From the other point of view, years ago UFC announced fight of Bekbulat Magomedoa and instead he took a fight in Chinese promotion and never got signed. And also UFC announced signing of Bibiano Fernandes and he never signed with them.

 

[Feniamin]

There was definitely media reports of the signing, and even Khabib confirmed it back then and later even a fight announcement that didn't end up materializing.
http://www.punditarena.com/mma/ccun...signed-his-13-1-cousin-abubakar-nurmagomedov/

To me it looks like that UFC offered a fight to Abubakar (as a replacement, maybe), he agreed and for some reason didn't make it to the fight. I think you can have a dozen of fighters with the same stories from the last few years. I think same happened with Alan Yamaniha - agreed to replace some fighter, got injured and UFC didn't sign him.

 

[Sakuraba7]

I think UFC never confirmed it. From the other point of view, years ago UFC announced fight of Bekbulat Magomedoa and instead he took a fight in Chinese promotion and never got signed. And also UFC announced signing of Bibiano Fernandes and he never signed with them.

As I said, he likely changed his mind. UFC won't make announcements until everything's solid.

The news of his signing was on January 2, 2018. The PFL Million Dollar Tournament was announced weeks later that same month. He pulled out of the deal for PFL because they give more fights to their Russian fighters and there's better pay as a result.

 

[Feniamin]

As I said, he likely changed his mind. UFC won't make announcements until everything's solid.

The news of his signing was on January 2, 2018. The PFL Million Dollar Tournament was announced weeks later that same month. He pulled out of the deal for PFL because they give more fights to their Russian fighters and there's better pay as a result.

Just found video with Abubakar - he says that UFC offered him a fight (to replace some guy who was injured or something) but his opponent didn't agree to fight, so the fight didn't happen. Said that Helwani started a rumor that he is gonna fight in February in Brazil, before contract was signed (Abubakar says that he never signed a contract and that's why he is not in UFC). So he was without contract and decided to stay in PFL (maybe he still had fights left on his WSOF contract).