According to the Russian, information about the fight with his compatriot is a premature leak because the PFL league, which bought out Bellator MMA, wants to save the one million dollars due to the winner of the lightweight grand prix.
“I haven’t actually gotten the fight yet,” Shabliy said in an interview with the channel MMA Analytics. “The league hasn’t announced it – it’s a leak, let’s put it that way. At the moment there is a confirmation of all the details that were agreed with us originally. Because the PFL league bought out Bellator, they now don’t want to hold a grand prix final – they just want me to fight for the title. Therefore, neither I nor Usman, for my part, have announced the fight”
“I said I’m ready to fight on May 17 in Paris, and they answered me – okay, May 17 in Paris is the title fight, the grand prix final. Now they’re thinking, grand prix final, or just a title fight. Accordingly, my decision will depend on what they say. I said after the semifinal fight that I don’t care who the opponent will be – the main thing is to fulfill the conditions. A championship fight, a grand prix final. I was sure that I was fighting for the title, the grand prix belt, and a check for one million dollars, and then there was information that the final was in doubt. I said at that time – let them give me my contract, and that’s it”
According to Shablia, if the fight with Nurmagomedov takes place, he has no doubts about his victory.
“If the fight with Usman takes place, of course I will win. If you don’t believe in your victory, then why even go out for this fight. You should always see yourself as a winner. If you see yourself as a loser, then why do you go out? To make money? I think it’s a strange question to ask a fighter. Of course I see myself as a winner. I can’t say how I’m going to beat him, by decision or early, but I see myself as a winner”