Atlantic City, NJ-Dagestan’s MOVLID Khaybulaev is now a double PFL champion, although those titles have come in different tournament formats.
The featherweight previously won the PFL Global Season in 2021 and submitted on Friday in PFL Atlantic City Jesus Pinedo to win the inaugural PFL World Tournament on 145 pounds.
After the victory, UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, who coaches Khaybulaev (24-0-1, 1NC), was present to wrap the world tournament belt on him.
“He is like a brother. We always train, we have been together for a long time, it is as a family for us,” Khaybulaev told Media, including Cageside Press after the event, asked about the presence of Khabib. “Of course it brings me double joy that he was the one who gave me the belt this time.”
The victory over Pinedo, itself a former PFL Global Champ, was not easy. Khaybulaev went to the fifth round after he had been brought down earlier in the game, before he finally found the entry.
“If we go in championship rounds, we had to release everything. Yes, I had to give it all for me and I am very happy with the outcome,” he said. The finish came via arm-triangle choke, which was not the first plan.
“I actually wanted to take his back and finish him off the rear stitches, but that didn’t work. And then I often practiced it, and I think he was weak enough at that time to finish him in the fifth round, and I am glad it was a stopping.”
After his victory of the 2021 championship, Khaybulaev took a year off from fighting. It seems that he is planning to be a bit more active. At 34, the undefeated featherweight finally has a limited window to compete at the top.
“I will be honest, now I start to feel like people say that when fighters get older, they are not the same,” Khaybulaev admitted. “I will be very honest, 2021 I felt much stronger and more confident. I was at the level that if you gave me [Ilia] Topuria then I think I could fight against him. But again, I still remain active, and that is true experience. “
View the full PFL Atlantic City after the press conference with MOVLID KHAYBULAEV above.
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