7 Questions for Shamil Abdurakhimov

Shamil Abdurakhimov rose out of a former Soviet territory in March 2011, when he defeated Marcos Oliveira to win an Abu Dhabi Fighting Championship open weight grand prix in the United Arab Emirates. Still, his road to the Ultimate Fighting Championship was a long one, as he had already posted previous victories over Jeff Monson and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou.

Abdurakhimov made his Octagon debut at a UFC Fight Night event on April 4, succumbing to first-round punches from Timothy Johnson. The organization will give him another look at UFC Fight Night “Cerrone vs. Oliveira” on Sunday, when he meets Anthony Hamilton at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh.

In this exclusive interview with Sherdog.com, Abdurakhimov details the path he took to the UFC, addresses dealing with adversity and touches on his goals inside the heavyweight division:

Sherdog.com: You have fought under various well-known organizations: ProFC, M-1 Global, Tech-Krep Fighting Championship, Abu Dhabi Fighting Championship and finally the UFC. How different were these experiences for you?
Abdurakhimov: Yes, I worked for different MMA organizations, but the UFC is radically different. It provides the highest level of organization; that’s why it’s most comfortable for me to work here. On the other hand, the UFC has extremely strict rules, and it was very unusual for me in the beginning. There are plenty of employees who bear responsibility for your every step, and everything must be put into action exactly as it has been planned, without any swerve. I wasn’t used to such pressure, and it distracted me a little at first.

Sherdog.com: You had just one fight in M-1 Global. Did you intend to build a career there?
Abdurakhimov: I planned to have only one fight in M-1. They needed an opponent for Kenny Garner and made me a good offer. I accepted, but from the very beginning, I notified them of my intention to have a onetime cooperation. I was already focused on signing a contract with the UFC at the time.

Sherdog.com: Why do you think the UFC signed you?
Abdurakhimov: Because the UFC is always in constant search of new talents, especially in the heavyweight division, and they are always scarce. I think the company spotted me in 2011 after my win in the ADFC tournament in the United Arab Emirates. They must have kept an eye on me since then. After my win over Jeff Monson [in May 2010], all the MMA experts around the world started to notice me. For a long time, I thought it was the most important victory of my career, but having become a UFC fighter, I realize the most important wins are still ahead.

Sherdog.com: What are your goals in the UFC?
Abdurakhimov: If you don’t set the goal of winning a championship, it makes no sense to sign a contract with the UFC. One must always aspire to the top.

Sherdog.com: To what do you attribute your loss to Timothy Johnson in your UFC debut?
Abdurakhimov: My team and I have made all the necessary conclusions, modified the training plan and changed the doctor who worked with us. I happened to be unable to adapt to fighting under new circumstances. I was affected by all the hype connected to the preparation for a full-fledged UFC event. I was not ready for such a rush and such a large number of staff responsible for literally my every step. That’s why the fight ended so quickly. I wasn’t hurt and didn’t have any serious injuries. I believed then and I believe now that I’m stronger than Timothy Johnson. In case of a rematch, I know I can win, but whether it happens or not depends on UFC matchmakers.

Sherdog.com: Who was the most difficult opponent of your career so far?
Abdurakhimov: I think it was Neil Grove, whom I fought in Krasnodar. I hadn’t been training for a long time before that event, and I seriously thought of ending my career. I had some problems with sparring partners during my preparation for that fight, so I was practically preparing alone. Perhaps that’s why at some moments I had this feeling that it was the first fight of my career. I felt like a beginner and acted very cautiously. Now, it’s much easier. I’ve done a good job with my team and went to training camps in Kislovodsk and Abkhazia. I had a series of very effective training sessions in Moscow, where my brother helped me a lot as a sparring partner. I think I’ll come in to my fight with Anthony Hamilton in excellent shape. I believe in my victory and will do my best to please all the fans with a spectacular fight.

Sherdog.com: You have lost three times: to Johnson, Tony Lopez and Thiago Santos. Do they have anything in common?
Abdurakhimov: Yes, they do. I could have won all of these fights. I was not weaker than these fighters. For some reason or another, my preparation for the fights was not on point, and I was not in my best shape. That’s the main experience I got from my losses.