Magomed Magomedov is looking past Petr Yan victory | Full Bellator 254 media day press conference
Magomed Magomedov is moving past being the only man to defeat UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan.
His one victory and one defeat against Yan is in the past since it took place over three years ago. Set to make his Bellator debut against Matheus Mattos at Bellator 254 this Thursday, Dec 8, Magomedov is only looking ahead.
“I am here to be champion,” Magomedov said during the Bellator 254 media day. “I have 16 victories over top opponents, I’ve never had an easy fight, never had a give me fight, all the guys I’ve beaten were top guys. Same for him, his only loss it to me.”
Like Yan, Mattos is also a familiar face to Magomedov. Although the two are yet to face, they both previously fought for Absolute Championship Bekrut. A product of the Pitbull brothers, Mattos is one of many rising bantamweight in Bellator’s deep 135-pound division.
Magomedov enters the division with some hype since he is the lone person to beat Yan. Now, the 28-year-old is looking to give people another reason to believe he will be a future champion. He wants to earn it.
“There are no easy fights at 135 on the way to the title,” Magomedov said. “I have my work cut out for me, but that’s the goal. the goal is to get to a title.”
Magomed Magomedov interview
Magomedov spoke to MyMMANews and other media outlets at Bellator 254 media day on Tuesday, Dec. 8. You can see his full press conference in the video above.
The full Bellator 254 fight card is listed below:
Bellator 254: Macfarlane vs. Velasquez Main Card:
CBS Sports Network
10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
Flyweight World Title Main Event: Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (11-0) vs. Juliana Velasquez (10-0)
Bantamweight Co-Main Event: Magomed Magomedov (16-1) vs. Matheus Mattos (12-1-1)
Heavyweight Bout: Linton Vassell (19-8, 1 NC) vs. Ronny Markes (19-7)
Lightweight Bout: Goiti Yamauchi (25-4) vs. Nate Andrews (16-3)
Preliminary Card:
CBSSports.com | Bellator MMA’s YouTube Channel
7:45 p.m. ET/4:45 p.m. PT
Welterweight Bout: Robson Gracie Jr. (3-0) vs. Billy Goff (2-2)
Featherweight Bout: Cody Law (1-0) vs. Kenny Champion (2-0)
Heavyweight Bout: Davion Franklin (2-0) vs. Anthony Garrett (5-2, 1 NC)
Middleweight Bout: Romero Cotton (4-0) vs. Justin Sumter (7-3)
Light Heavyweight Bout: Grant Neal (4-0) vs. Maurice Jackson (7-2)
Welterweight Bout: Shamil Nikaev (9-0, 1 NC) vs. Kemran Lachinov (10-2)
