Shara Magomedov commits to Israel Adesanya pursuit after UFC 308

ABU DHABI – After what is likely to go down as one of the most highlight reel-worthy knockouts in UFC history, Shara Magomedov brought part of his focus back to a longtime pursuit.

Magomedov (15-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) stayed unbeaten Saturday when he took out Armen Petrosyan (9-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) with a second-round TKO to open the UFC 308 main card at Etihad Arena. The finish was far from an ordinary one, though.

Magomedov threw a spinning backfist, and as soon as the first one was about to land, he pivoted and threw another with the opposite arm. It landed clean, and Petrosyan was done, with the only thing left being his unfortunate immortalization on the wrong end of the Shara “Bullet” highlight.

“I used to practice this technique since my career in muay Thai,” Magomedov said at his post-fight news conference. “In MMA, I was unable to throw it (until now) because people are going to wrestle me. But this time, I fought a high-level striker and it became a chess match – and I was able to surprise him in this chess match.”

Not surprisingly, Magomedov picked up a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus for the stunning finish, which opened the pay-per-view portion of the card.

But Magomedov didn’t immediately shoot for the moon, despite an opportune time to play the “I want a title shot” game. Ne wants a fight with former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, whom he said he’s been after since they were in the kickboxing world at the same time.

“I used to chase Israel when he fought kickboxing in China. I was fighting kickboxing in China too,” Magomedov said. “Now that he switched to MMA, and now that I’m here, I’m ready to capture (what he’s had). I’m ready to fight him … it doesn’t matter where. I beat his friend and sparring partner, Blood Diamond, in China and I was ready to fight him. Israel is very popular in China. Then he switched to MMA and signed to the UFC – and now I’m here, too.”

Adesanya is mired in the first slump of his career. He lost the middleweight title to Alex Pereira at UFC 281, but won it back at UFC 287. Then he lost it to Sean Strickland 13 months ago. He was submitted by new champ Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 in August for his second straight defeat.

Magomedov said it doesn’t matter as much when he fights Adesanya, so lnog as it happens.

“I’m in no rush. I’m not running in front of the train. The only way for Israel Adesanya to avoid the fight with me is to retire,” Magomedov said. “Of course I would like to fight Israel to prove that I’m the best striker in the division. But also, I would like to fight Marvin Vettori to prove that my wrestling is good. Those two names really excite me. Besides them, guys like Kevin Holland, Michel Pereira.

“Our middleweight division is full of predators and sharks, but I’m the only pirate.”