SAN JOSE, Calif. – For his first attempt at a title defense, Bellator’s lightweight champion is a betting favorite of almost baffling proportions.
Usman Nurmagomedov (16-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) is a 25-1 favorite against challenger Benson Henderson (30-11 MMA, 7-6 BMMA) in the Bellator 292 main event, which doubles as a quarterfinal fight in the start of the promotion’s lightweight grand prix.
A number as big as -2500 seldom is seen in men’s MMA, and certainly not in title fights. That it comes against Henderson, a former UFC and WEC lightweight champ, makes Nurmagomedov look all the more impressive.
But he’s not thinking about the odds or any kind of sleight by those who set them against Henderson, who has had ups and downs in Bellator, but currently is back on he upswing.
“Whether in MMA or in life in general, I never dismiss people and their achievements,” Nurmagomedov told MMA Junkie through an interpreter at Wednesday’s media day. “The fact that he (had a losing skid) could have been multiple reasons. Plus, people tend to, if they’re smart, learn from their mistakes. So by no means do I want to underestimate him. I still consider him a strong opponent. He’s a strong fighter.”
Nurmagomedov, a cousin of former UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, won the title this past November at Bellator 288 in Chicago with a decision over Patricky Freire. His first attempted defense comes in a tournament format, but he said he’s not scouting the rest of the field.
“I always focus on the next opponent,” Nurmagomedov said. “I never plan ahead. I never try to look past my opponents. It’s one guy at a time. It doesn’t really matter for me because I eventually will have to go through all of them, anyway. In this case, Benson is a great matchup because he’s a great opponent. He has great experience and he’s known. It’s going to be good for me, for my resume.”
Bellator 292 takes place Friday at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. The main card airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.
Check out Nurmagomedov’s full media day interview in the video above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 292.