In the second part of a big interview, FIGHT NIGHTS GLOBAL president Kamil Gadzhiev has spoken about the transitions in the Lightweight (70.3 kg) division and the reasons of “saying goodbye” to Murad Machaev:
- Vener Galiev has mixed up rating classifications again. Should Vener expect the champion bout or will fans see the trilogy with Akhmed Aliev?
- I can’t agree that Vener’s win was a surprise. Despite that bookmakers did not give him a chance, I thought that the chances in the battle with Gaponov are 50/50. Those considerations lead to making of this fight. It was a solid test for Gaponov and he failed. I think all the fun for him is to see in the future. And Vener has been one of the leaders in the FNG lightweight division and he still is. I think a title match or a match against Akhmed Aliev will not happen in the near future. Vener lost one fight and winning this one is not enough to become a title prospect.
- Alexander Shabliy cemented his position in the lightweight with a loud statement. Deep down, do you see him as a future champion?
- I can't call Shabliy the to-be-champion as in the lightweight we have a lot of serious guys. Each of them can claim the title plus the current champ is not to step down that easy. But Shabliy is sure one of the closest contenders for the title fight. It is a fact. We’ll give him another fight, if he wins, he will be given a "title shot". I must say that this guy was a very good and interesting purchase for the company.
- It's no secret that Murad Machaev has left the promotion. Tell us the reasons why the organization decided not to renew the contract with the "Strangler"?
- There is a number of reasons. Probably, Murad expected more from us that we were ready to propose. First and foremost, it concerns fights that we wanted him to have. Machaev had many fights in FNG and probably the time to see something new had come for him. He would not have been given a title bout soon here, while in ACB he has the chance, according to rumors.
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