00:00Is this still just for fun or are you envisioning life, winning the belts?
00:07Does this fight mean even more to you and you do feel a little pressure at all?
00:11No, I don't feel pressure. I said, like, I started doing this for fun, you know, like, and then I became a professional fighter.
00:18I feel good, so excited, and finally I'm fighting for the title.
00:23He's in his prime right now. He got a lot of experience. He did a lot of, like, title defense.
00:29And he's on his prime. But I think, like, I'm in my prime as well, and I'm ready to beat him.
00:38You like that?
00:41You like that?
00:42Yeah. Who made this?
00:44I make this.
00:45Oh, that's good.
00:46Personalized.
00:47Do you anticipate a much different fight this time than you got in the last fight?
00:51Man, maybe first time I'm a little bit underestimated because I don't know these guys. He's a big guy now.
00:58Armand Sarokan is, like, big name, you know. He's a good fighter.
01:01You need a big name, though.
01:02Yeah, maybe some of it. Maybe you'll come back.
01:05Me? You know that if I came back, I would still beat you as I always beat you.
01:10Islam, thank you again, my man.
01:12Thank you, man.
01:13Till next time. Peace.
01:14Three, two, one.
01:21What do you think has led to you being so good in a relatively short amount of time?
01:25I don't know. Should I give the secret away? Should I just give it out for free like that?
01:29Yeah, that's what I would like to hear.
01:30Yeah, just training every day.
01:31Fighting is very just a mental chess battle, so, I mean, you don't have to be the best physical specimen to, like, be very good at it and excel.
01:40What's up, guys?
01:43A lot's been made of the drama between you and Umar leading up to this fight.
01:47Do you actually hate Umar, or is that just him trying to build the fight, too?
01:51I don't need to hate nobody. You guys know that Umar disrespects me.
01:55He calls me fake champion, which is, I'm not a fake champion.
01:58Now it's all good. We have a fight week. I'm positive.
02:02And I'm sure you guys will love this fight, and you guys will have a good show.
02:08Victory!
02:10Umar and Meghamedov. Challenges for the UFC Bantamweight Championship this weekend.
02:15Morab is saying you don't deserve yet, though.
02:17Brother, if you have something personal with someone, you have to go to him without security, camera.
02:23But if you want to promote fight, do like that.
02:26Yeah.
02:27All it means to you to become the world champion on Saturday, if you can beat Abdul Alashfield.
02:32He's going to be one more champion from AKA, one more champion from Dagestan.
02:37He's going to be amazing.
02:38Perfect.
02:41I fought on this arena in 2018, one of my best performances.
02:49Very good experience over here in California, and I got the bonus. That was a good night.
02:55It's good to be here, you know. I have been in LA before, but fight week is amazing, you know.
03:02Knowing that you're going to make some money, this is a good card, and we're worth it.
03:08Yeah.
03:10Look at this, brother.
03:11I know you cannot show the... Man, I'm hungry.
03:16Yeah?
03:17For this side, I'll set up this side, right?
03:20Not for now.
03:21Okay.
03:22After the fight, okay.
03:25What's it like being recognized by people just out on the street all the time?
03:29Dude, I think it's nice, right? I like that, but I don't care too much.
03:33Because if you lose, they're going to hate you.
03:36Well, thank you so much, all the fans that like my work.
03:42Working with scotch, meets, drills, water drills, sweating, and finish.
03:50One hour.
03:51He's doing what they consider a pretty large water push tonight, but they do rehydrate quite well, and ultimately the bulk of the weight cut will still be conducted Friday morning, which definitely helps with his recovery process.
04:06Always has this never-ending diary of every little detail of when he drank something, when he ate something, from every single fight week that he's ever had.
04:14That performance habit that he has really separates him, and it's honestly a habit I think I wish more athletes would copy and emulate.
04:22Training, media, cut weights, recovery, sleep, if you want to be champion, you have to be ready.
04:33And I'm ready, I did this many times, nothing new for me, you know?
04:39It's all things what I did all my life.
04:43Let's go.
04:47Thursday, so tomorrow's weigh-in day.
04:49We're just killing some time, walking around, trying to not think of food too much.
04:52Look for some shoes for the press conference.
04:54I'm more like a flip-flop kind of guy, but for the press conference I'll do something, yeah.
04:58How's it going, you guys need anything?
05:00What's up?
05:01Yeah, like a yellow Timberland boots.
05:04What size?
05:0511 or 12.
05:06You're fighting this Saturday, right?
05:07Yeah, Saturday.
05:08Dude, that's so dope.
05:10These used to exist in like lower as well, right?
05:13That's the OG boot, like if you're looking for the iconic Timberland, that's going to be the one to grab.
05:18Yeah, I think the size is good, yeah.
05:22Boom.
05:23LA jacket, black pants, Los Angeles here on the back.
05:27Oh yeah.
05:28Ready.
05:30He's fighting this Saturday in the UFC.
05:33Oh, .
05:34We were just talking about that, actually.
05:35Yeah.
05:36Oh, really?
05:37Yeah, we were just talking about that.
05:38That's like my fascination right now.
05:39Apparently I'm trying to train for jiu-jitsu.
05:41Oh, very good.
05:42Alrighty, man.
05:43Take care, good luck.
05:44Have a nice day.
05:46I've got the shoes, and I'm going to eat like the tiniest portion of food you've ever seen in your life.
05:51Get ready for the press conference, chill a little bit, and then we'll head out.
05:57Welcome to the UFC 311 press conference from the brand new Intuit Dome in Los Angeles for a loaded first pay-per-view event in 2025.
