“I’m ready, just two belts and put the check on the table,” the Russian wrote on social media, posting the official poster of the event and noting the PFL and Bellator leagues.
The day before, the PFL league, which took over Bellator last year, officially announced that a title fight between the Russians on May 17 would headline the Bellator Champions Series event in Paris, but the press release made no mention of the fact that the bout would be the lightweight grand prix final, with the winner to receive the event’s winner’s belt and a check for one million dollars.
Shabliy in a recent interview said that he will accept a fight with his compatriot only if the organization fulfills its obligations in full. Otherwise, the Russian will seek termination of the contract, and think about moving to the UFC, which has already expressed interest in signing him.
Last November, the head of the California State Athletic Commission, Andy Foster, announced that Usman Nurmagomedov had failed a doping test and was disqualified for six months, and his fight with Brent Primus, which took place as part of the Bellator lightweight grand prix semifinals and ended with the Russian winning by unanimous decision, was ruled a no contest.
In the quarterfinal matchup, undefeated Usman Nurmagomedov finished Benson Henderson with a rear-naked choke in the first round.
Alexander Shabliy reached the finals, finishing Tofik Musaev by TKO and then defeating former Bellator champion Patricky Freire by unanimous decision.