Zabit Magomedsharipov has addressed his cardio critics.
With a perfect 6-0 start to his UFC tenure, Magomedsharipov (18-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) has been near flawless in his performances and has emerged as a top featherweight contender.
But if there’s one thing many have been critical of, it’s his cardio. Magomedsharipov has shown a tendency to slow down in the third round. He has gone to the judges’ scorecards on three occasions in the UFC, most recently when he picked up a unanimous decision win over Calvin Kattar in November in Moscow.
All three judges awarded Kattar the third round, but Magomedsharipov, who is known for his in-cage acrobatics, wonders if fans want to see an entertaining battle, or a safe win? He took to Instagram to explain his case.
“Many criticize my endurance without thinking about how much energy a non-standard work in a battle can take,” Magomedsharipov said via translation. “I always strive to please my fans, but, of course, we will tighten the functionality anyway. Entertainment in battle or a simple victory without risk? What would you give priority to?”
