LAS VEGAS — Omari Akhmedov prefers to let his fighting in the cage do the talking, and when he’s been in the UFC octagon, his performances have spoken volumes.
The 32-year old Russian competitor has really come into his own over the past three years, going undefeated over a six-fight stretch by earning five victories and a draw.
As impressive as that string of fights has been, though, Akhmedov (20-4-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC) has never had an opportunity to fight a high-profile competitor before this week.
Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 32 will mark Akhmedov’s biggest fight to date, as he gets a co-feature bout against former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman.
And while the American Top Team competitor out of Dagestan is still making progress on his English skills, he didn’t need a translator at Thursday’s virtual media day to make clear he understands a victory over Weidman will make a major statement in the UFC’s stacked 185-pound division.
“Chris is a good fighter, he’s a big name,” Akhmedov told reporters, including MMA Junkie. “It’s a good chance for me to get close to title.”
To hear more of Akhmedov’s thoughts on his big opportunity, watch the video above.
UFC on ESPN+32 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.
