Tajikistan’s first UFC fighter, Nurullo Aliev, plans to ‘smash’ lightweight division
LAS VEGAS – Nurullo Aliev doesn’t want to waste any time after securing a UFC contract at Dana White’s Contender Series 55.
Aliev (8-0), Tajikistan’s first UFC fighter, remained unbeaten when he stopped Josh Wick by first-round TKO on Tuesday at the UFC Apex. It was a dominant performance for the 22-year-old, who is aiming straight for the top of the division.
“I smash you, lightweight division,” Aliev told reporters through an interpreter at the DWCS 55 post-fight press conference.
He continued, “I already said to Dana give me right away. You can give me even top 15 if you wanted.”
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Born in Tajikistan, Aliev is feeling the love from his home country, which he says pulled an all-nighter to watch him compete.
“For the past two days since I made weight, nobody was sleeping,” Aliev said. “Starting from young people to old people. It’s 7 a.m. in the morning in our country; people are celebrating. I mean, it’s just crazy.”
He continued, “Of course, I do want to put my country on the map. I do want to make it famous and hopefully by signing in the UFC, it will open a lot of doors, because I do know that there is a lot of perspective fighters from our country.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Dana White’s Contender Series 55.
