CHICAGO – Timur Khizriev obtained the win and three factors within the opening spherical of the 2024 PFL featherweight season, however he’s satisfied there was room for far more.
Friday, Khizriev (15-0) defeated veteran Brett Johns in a unanimous decison on the preliminary card of PFL 2024, Week 3 at Wintrust Area. Though it was a clear victory, Khizriev doesn’t suppose he carried out at his finest towards Johns (20-4), and he has an concept as to why that occurred.
“To be trustworthy, I’m not totally proud of my efficiency,” Khizriev mentioned in Russian by a translator in his post-fight interview. “Clearly, a win is a win, however I simply really feel like I wasn’t totally there. My regular power wasn’t current, and I feel it was partly due to Ramadan. I used to be fasting, and the final day was specifically exhausting for me. Usually, I don’t have an issue with weight reducing and this time I had somewhat hassle, so I don’t suppose I used to be totally recovered.
“However once more, we’re transferring on, and hopefully the following battle might be extra attention-grabbing.”
Johns selected a heavy grappling strategy, one thing that didn’t shock Khizriev. Khizriev simply thought he would’ve been extra harmful on the bottom when it got here to grappling with Johns, which leaves him with a bitter style regardless of conserving his unbeaten document and transferring on with three factors to the ultimate season bout.
“No, I used to be not shocked with him wrestling,” Khizriev mentioned. “As a matter of truth, I felt that was the one likelihood he truly had. With putting, I feel he realized he didn’t have an opportunity with me.
“I’m simply not likely proud of the way in which I used to be on the bottom right this moment, and I do know he has wrestling. I do know he has fought good guys like (Aljamain) Streling and you recognize, I used to be anticipating that. However once more, it wasn’t one of the best efficiency, however we’ll get one other likelihood.”
For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for PFL 2024, Week 3.
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