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'He's going to be in my corner' - Ignacio Bahamondes says Belal Muhammad would back him against Islam Makhachev
Ignacio Bahamondes finds himself in the top 15 of the UFC lightweight rankings after defeating Jalin Turner at UFC 313, and the Chilean fighter credits his time spent training with Belal Muhammad for helping him get to his current level.
"Having him as a brother and as a friend is a blessing too," Bahamondes told DAZN News in a recent Q&A. "And he knows me better than anyone else in training because we train together. We do all the classes together. He’s my main training partner, and I’m his. So he knows when to ask for things."
The 27-year-old also illustrated just how good Muhammad is, explaining that the current UFC weltwerweight champion combines technique with intelligent movement to throw opponents off.
"A lot of people talk: 'Oh, his technique is this, his technique is that,'" Bahamondes said. "But when you have him in front of you, it’s a completely different game. His pressure, his non-stop movement, even the most talented striker will struggle against him because that’s his style."
With his rise in the lightweight rankings, Bahamondes' long-term goal is to reach the top of the division and win the UFC lightweight title. He says there would be no conflict should he eventually face off against current champion Islam Makhachev, who is a friend of Muhammad's.
"We talked about it," Bahamondes said. "I told him, 'Dude, now I’m ranked 15th, now I’m going for the belt.' He told me, 'I got you, my brother. You’re my brother. He’s my friend—it’s different.' At 100%, he’s going to be in my corner."
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