Bellator’s lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov is the betting favorite in his next fight, where he will defend his crown for the first time, but the Russian star just doesn’t care about any odds.
Usman (16-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) is a 25-1 favorite in his showdown against Benson Henderson (30-11 MMA, 7-6 BMMA) in the Bellator 292 main event this tonight.
Such a big difference in betting favorites is a rare sight, but Usman is still not underestimating the veteran skills of Henderson, who is the former UFC and WEC lightweight champ.
“Whether in MMA or life in general, I never dismiss people and their achievements,” Usman said in a recent interview. “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.”
Usman is expected to cross paths with other lightweight juggernauts in the near future, given the nature of Bellator’s current landscape, but he has his focus fixed on Henderson for now.
“I always focus on the next opponent. 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,” he said.
“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.”