"First of all, I'm grateful to have the opportunity to fight in Dubai. You know, I took the chance. They proposed Umalatov to me and I said, 'Yes, I have the chance to be at the top.' In life, you have to take risks, but he didn't want to fight this guy. Umalatov didn't want to fight me. They came to me, [and] I took the risk. So now, I don't have Umalatov, but I am at the top, so everything is good. In my career, I never scheduled my own fights. I want to fight here in Dubai. I accepted what was there for me, so for me, if I can fight more, I'm going to fight more. I don't choose. I take what there is."
"On my game plan, it doesn't change because no matter who's in front of me, there's no secret. I'm going to go for my wrestling and grappling game. Nothing has really changed. I always accept any challenge. My goal is not Umalatov or some name specifically. My goal is the belt, so if I need to go through him to go to the belt, OK, let's go. If they're going to give me the chance for the belt after this fight, it's good for me. I'm always looking to fight the best in front of me, to be the best, because that's the fight game."
Abdoul Abdouraguimov, nicknamed "The Lazy King," returns to action at PFL Dubai to face Kendly St. Louis at Coca-Cola Arena. The bout marks his first assignment since December 2024 after an original matchup with Magomed Umalatov changed. Abdouraguimov accepted the opponent switch without issue and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to fight in Dubai. He does not alter his preparation for specific opponents and intends to pursue a wrestling- and grappling-centered game plan. Abdouraguimov aims for the welterweight belt, embraces risks, and seeks to fight the best available competition.
Read at Sherdog
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