Fresh off the best knockout win of his career, Logan Storey believed he had a career-defining opportunity in front of him. The former No. 1 contender, who had already risen to the top of the Bellator MMA welterweight rankings, was growing frustrated as he waited for his next fight. With his preparation in mind, Storey worked at a gym while his career stalled.
“It was a tough position for all the fighters involved with Bellator,” Storey told Sherdog.com. “We really didn’t know what was going to happen to us…but that’s the way this sport works. Sometimes you have to wait, but now that we’re in this tournament, it’s getting busy.”
His perseverance will lead him to the Professional Fighters League, where the 31-year-old will be on his way to earning $1 million in prize money. Story (15-2), who has already defeated fellow contenders Neiman Gracie and Brennan Ward, enters as the favorite to win, but he will be tested by a new opponent early on.
Shamil Musaev hasn’t caused much of a stir during his run on the European circuit, but the ‘Silent Assassin’ is dangerous and undefeated (14-0-1). The story hopes to be the first to stop Musayev when he slows down in the PFL 3:2024 regular season at Chicago’s Wintrust Center on April 19th (ET for the main card) Tune into ESPN and ESPN+ at 9:30 p.m.).
Musaev is high-handed and aggressive. He is an inch taller than Story and can combine striking and spinning attacks. After his success at Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki, the 30-year-old Moscow native has built up enough confidence to take on one of MMA’s biggest stages. While Story respects Musaev’s skill set, the former NCAA D1 wrestling All-American is not intimidated by his experience.
“He’s good on the cage and in wrestling, but I don’t think he’s ever had the same kind of competition as me. And I also don’t think he’s ever had someone pace him like I did. I know,” Storey said. “The biggest thing for me is letting him do his job and being in front of him all the time.”
Story’s gas tank will be the former Minnesota Golden Gopher’s best weapon in the season format. Aside from Ward’s second-round knockout loss, Story has lost five rounds in his past four fights. Pressure and consistency feed him and he has no intention of changing that. He’s not ignoring the PFL points system. An early finish would give him a clear advantage in the standings, but that is not his main concern.
“I’m not going to change the way I fight and start chasing something or get out of position chasing a finish that isn’t there,” he said. This is the first round. The most important thing is to come out victorious and stay healthy. Of course you don’t want to leave it in the hands of the judges, but if I fight my fight I think the finish will come. ”
