Shalabdin Magomedov, also known as “Shala Bullet”, is not happy about the fact that his next opponent has a win against a fellow countryman.
Magomedov (13-0) will face Michal Oleksiejczuk (19-8) in the co-main event at UFC on ABC 7 on August 3 after the originally scheduled co-main event between Nick Diaz and Vicente Luque was canceled. The Polish veteran is an ideal opponent, as Magomedov already wanted an experienced opponent. But “Bullet” doesn’t like that those bouts include first-round knockout wins over compatriots Gadzhimurad Antigulov (2019) and Shamil Gamzatov (2021). Magomedov vows to avenge his loss to the Russian against Oleksiejczuk at UFC Abu Dhabi.
“Honestly, I wanted to fight an experienced fighter with eight to 10 fights under his belt. [in the UFC]”As far as I know, he has had 12 or 13 fights in UFC and has beaten two, no, three Russian fighters. I don’t like the fact that he beat our fighter. This mistake has to be righted,” Magomedov told reporters in Abu Dhabi.
Magomedov doesn’t take it too personally, but he didn’t take notice of Olekscheichuk’s criticism of him. Magomedov claims “Khusar” offered to welcome him into the “big guys club” as if he were a “giant.” “Bullet” acknowledges that Olekscheichuk is a good fighter, albeit a bad stand-up fighter, but claims the Russian has soundly defeated many lesser fighters in the past.
“Not to say it was too personal, but he made a meme about me like, ‘If you want to join the big man club, I’ll have you in the Octagon,’ like he was a giant. Sure, he’s a good fighter, a southpaw, a tough opponent with bad stand-up, but I’ve fought bad opponents throughout my career. But when the fight started, I looked like a bad opponent to them, not the other way around.”
