Exclusive Q&A: Gadzhi Rabadanov ready to get his belt back

Gadzhi Rabadanov is back for another edition of the PFL World Lightweights Tournament after winning the whole thing in 2024.

His first bout is Friday against former UFC fighter Marc Diakese. 

DAZN News spoke to the Dagestani ahead of the competition.

DAZN News: You're Muslim fighter. How do you train during Ramadan?

Gadzhi Rabadanov: It’s a little bit hard, a little bit different. We train at night, we rest, and sleep a little bit during the day. Sometimes we do one training session before Iftar, about one-and-a-half hours before Iftar, and hard training at night, maybe at 10 or 11 PM, like this. All day, you stay fasting, you rest, maybe sleep a little bit, like that.

DN: How is Coach Khabib?

GR: First of all, he is my older brother. He's the best coach because he has more experience than our team. He knows everything about fighting, I think. He's the best coach. He was the best fighter, and now he's the best coach.

DN: You come from the Abdulmanap school. Khabib has invested a lot in Dagestan, as have many other fighters. You've got the best training partners in the world (Islam, Usman, and many others). Does your success ultimately come from that?

GR: Of course, because we train, iron sharpens iron, like this, and nothing else. We have a lot of tough guys. We have a lot of champions in the gym. Right now, we have a new generation. I think they will become new champions again. We have one of the best teams in the world.

DN: First round, Marc Diakiese, a former UFC fighter who has faced Dan Hooker and Rafael Fiziev. What do you think of him?

GR: I think he's a good opponent for me. He's very tough. He has a name because he's a former UFC fighter. It's good for me. It's good for my legacy and to continue my win streak.

DN: Any prediction?

GR: I finish him after two rounds. I will finish him, Inshallah.

DN: You've already won the tournament. Why do it again?

GR: I don't want to stop. This is not the best of my career. I think I can do more than one tournament. I feel I can be a champion again, and that's it. I feel now, right now, this is my time. This is my prime time. I think right now, I am one of the best lightweights in the world. I believe that.

DN: Do you consider yourself the favourite?

GR: Of course, I think I'm the favourite. I believe that. And of course, I believe I am right now one of the best.

DN: Would you like to see Brent Primus in the final like last year?

GR: I think it would be fine. It would be funny. But I believe he can do it. He can do it again. He's a very tough guy. I think it can happen again.

DN: If you win again, what do you want to do?

GR: Right now, I’m thinking only about my first fight. And what's going to happen in the future? We will see.

DN: If the PFL tells you that you can have a title shot against Usman Nurmagomedov, would you face him or not?

GR: No. Never. Never.

DN: There is a lot of talent at lightweight. For example, Paul Hughes will fight in PFL Belfast against Miranda. Archie Colgan will face Mansour Barnaoui in Paris. Do any of those fighters interest you?

GR: Maybe. Why not? I want to stay busy. In the PFL right now, we have a lot of tough lightweight fighters outside of the tournament. We will do this.