A highly-rated prospect who stands unbeaten after 14 fights, Usman opted to pursue a path in the Bellator ranks rather than the brighter lights of the UFC for the first big steps in his career, but the UFC Octagon surely beckons further down the line if he continues his current arc.
Competing at 155lbs like his iconic cousin, Usman boasts a strong ground game – perhaps unsurprising given his Dagestani heritage.
Thus far he has largely been untroubled in his three outings under the Bellator banner, including an embarrassingly one-sided win in his last fight in Moscow in October.
Afterwards, Nurmagomedov called for a significant step up in competition and fans will be desperate to see what the young fighter is capable of in 2022.
He has since made headlines for unwanted reasons when a car he was traveling in struck a traffic officer, leading to his detention in Moscow, although it emerged that Nurmagomedov was only a witness in the case – even though he still had the riot act read to him by his illustrious cousin.
Khabib is part of Usman’s coaching team © Bellator MMAOne of the men who coached Khabib to the pinnacle of the sport, American Kickboxing Academy guru Javier Mendez, has tipped Usman for similarly big things, describing him as among the most precocious talents he has ever trained.
“He can do it all. He needs seasoning, he needs experience and mental [strength], but he is by far the most talented and gifted fighter I’ve ever had,” Mendez told RT Sport.
Mendez might be biased, of course, but it will be intriguing to find out whether Nurmagomedov can deliver on that innate talent inside the cage in 2022.
ALSU ABDULLINA Last but not least, if the aforementioned Arsen Zakharyan is one youngster to watch from Russian men’s football in 2022, then the female equivalent is defender Alsu Abdullina.
The 20-year-old Abdullina recently left Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow for English giants Chelsea, who were winners of the English Women’s Super League for the past two seasons.
A versatile left-back, Abdullina was noted by Chelsea for the “energy and physicality” she will add to an already star-studded team.
Born in Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan, Abdullina made a name for herself after moving to the respected academy at Moscow club Chertanovo, and from there heading to cross-city rivals Lokomotiv.
After signing for the London club owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Abdullina spoke of her happiness at taking on what will be “a big change in my life and a new challenge.”
“I want to continue to develop as a player and progress in London. I want to help the team to win as many trophies as possible,” added the star, who has already won 30 caps for the Russian national team.
Abdullina will be playing under Chelsea women’s manager Emma Hayes, who is one of the most respected figures in the game.
“Alsu is a very good young player who has accumulated a lot of club and national appearances for her age,” Hayes said in praise of the new arrival.
“Alsu is a versatile player who can play any position on the left, adding more depth to the squad. We look forward to seeing how she develops in our environment over the next couple of years.”
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The move has been described as huge for women’s football in Russia as Abdullina arguably becomes her nation’s most high-profile female player.
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