Shara Magomedov used his latest victory as a launchpad to take aim at Sean Strickland, accusing the former UFC champion of refusing to compete outside the United States while Magomedov himself is unable to fight there.
Magomedov, who is blind in one eye and will never fight in the United States, defeated Michel Pereira by 29-28x3 decision in Baku. Pereira had trained at Xtreme Couture alongside Strickland ahead of the bout.
Speaking after the fight, Magomedov ripped into Strickland’s stance on travel. “He’s like a domestic champion. Just a home boy who acts like a big hero in his gym,” Magomedov said. “For example, if they invited him to Azerbaijan he wouldn’t come, because he’s scared. He won’t leave America. And if we had to fight, he would say, ‘Come to America,’ because he knows I can’t go there now. So he’s just a domestic champion.”
Strickland has said he has no interest in fighting outside America, despite previously competing twice in Australia, twice in Brazil, and twice in Canada during his UFC career.
Magomedov, now 6-1 in the UFC but not in the official top 15 rankings, also took a jab at Strickland’s style. “I don’t think he can do it like me,” he said of Strickland, adding of Pereira’s preparation with the American, “It was an imitation, if a pale one.”
