After a successful UFC debut in September, Makhmud Muradov will make the cage walk one more time before the end of the year.
Muradov (23-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC) steps in on short notice once again to take on Trevor Smith (15-9 MMA, 5-6 UFC) at UFC on ESPN 7 on Dec. 7.
Being active is nothing new for Muradov, who is set to enter his sixth fight in 2019.
“UFC contacted me and my management about this bout, again, not a second of hesitation,” Muradov told MMA Junkie. “I am very used to fighting every two to three months so I can say, I am always ready for a fight. And it makes a huge difference between short notice on 13 days and four to five weeks. This time, I sure as hell will be prepared.”
Muradov defeated Alessio Di Chirico via unanimous decision in his UFC debut in September, extending his win streak to 12 in a row. He will be making a relatively quick turnaround when he takes on Smith, and believes he’ll have an edge wherever the fight goes.
“My opponent is very skilled fighter, with more than 10 UFC fights,” Muradov said. “He has a good standup game and is an experienced wrestler. All my respect to him, but I am going to be better in everything. Whatever comes. Stand up, ground even in air if necessary.”
And for the Uzbekistani middleweight, who’s competed the entirety of his career in Europe, this will be his first fight in the United States, an opportunity he’s looking to make the most of.
“Each audience is different, the Czech, the Russian, they know me well, because of my fights,” Muradov said. “American audience is something completely new, and I am excited to pull them on my side by my performance.”
“I have a huge fan base behind my back, I am used to such pressure,” Muradov added. “Everything I do, I do for them and because of them. There were no nerves at all. I know the purpose, why I am doing all of this, and it’s pushing me forward.”
Muradov is the only MMA fighter currently signed to Floyd Mayweather’s “Money Team.” He was able to speak to Mayweather after his first UFC fight, who congratulated him for his win.
“Four years ago we met on one occasion in Prague and since then, we are what we are, a family,” Muradov said. “He was one of the first ones I spoke to after the (Di Chirico) fight. We Face-timed, he congratulated me, he was happy about my first win. We are not just a management team, or something like that. We in ‘TMT’, we are a true family. Success of one, is success of everybody.”
Floyd Mayweather protege Makhmud Muradov believes he's better than Trevor Smith everywhere