PFL heavyweight champion Ali Isaev is frustrated at having to sit on the shelf and has called on the promotion to book him a fight or grant his release to let him find somewhere else to resume his career.
The 36-year-old Russian, who banked a cool $1 million after winning the 2019 PFL heavyweight season last year, is currently on hiatus along with the rest of the PFL roster with the promotion placing their event calendar on hold until the start of the 2021 season.
While that decision may make sense for the promotion, it has come as a source of frustration to Isaev (9-0 MMA, 5-0 PFL), who sees the clock ticking on his career and wants to make the most of his fighting prime.
“I’ll be 37 soon. That’s why I wanted the PFL either to give me a fight or let me go so that I can fight in other promotions before the end of the year,” he told RT Sport. “Because I can’t wait and take a big break. I want to compete. Time goes by, and I have to find new opportunities to make a statement and fight against the top guys.”
If that means Isaev has to leave the PFL and sign with another promotion, that’s what he is ready to do. But, before that can become a possibility, he will have to come to terms with the PFL on his release. The promotion is unlikely to want to let its reigning heavyweight champion leave, especially given its plans to expand internationally in 2021, but Isaev is clear on what he wants.
“To be honest, the PFL gave me a chance to make myself known,” he said. “They’re a very nice organization. If they let me go, maybe I’ll come back later, why not? That’s where I got my start.
“It would be great if they could understand my situation and make a choice that would work for me. Stability. I need stability.”
With an undefeated record, including four fights for Russia’s Fight Nights Global promotion before his five-fight unbeaten run in the PFL, Isaev’s stock has never been higher, and he said he would love the opportunity to test himself against the best heavyweights in the UFC. The attraction of joining the MMA leader is heightened by the fact that the UFC is holding regular events, while the PFL is on hiatus. Isaev wants to fight in 2020 – and wants to be with a promotion that will allow him to do so.
“Of course I’d love to fight in the UFC if the PFL lets me go,” he said. “They’re putting on events despite the pandemic. I think other organizations aren’t putting on such good events now. Maybe they don’t have the same resources as the UFC, but today I only see UFC fights.
“I’d love to fight their top fighters. I’m not picky, I’ll fight anyone they give me. My age doesn’t let me pick an opponent. When you’re young, you have to make the right choices. I saw how many young guys rushed too much. They were doing well but then stumbled after making the wrong decision, or they were misadvised. They wanted a fast rise to stardom. We have this saying, ‘He who makes haste makes everyone laugh.’ But I’m already 9-0, I don’t really need to gain experience. I have to do my job.”
Heavyweight champion Ali Isaev reveals frustration with PFL hiatus: ‘Give me a fight or let me go’
