KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
Alfie Davis has questioned the mental fortitude and physical strength of Usman Nurmagomedov ahead of their lightweight title clash, the headline bout of PFL: Road to Dubai, at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai on February 7.
The London-based fighter believes the undefeated champion has been flattered by his reputation and training pedigree, suggesting that Nurmagomedov may struggle when faced with genuine adversity in the cage.
Davis enters the bout following a remarkable run in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) promotion, where he secured three consecutive upset victories to claim the title and a life-changing prize. Having defeated Nurmagomedov's teammate, Gadzhi Rabadanov, in the final, Davis expressed confidence that he has the blueprint to dismantle the celebrated Dagestani camp.
Apart from the usual verbal fight among each contender in the modern era over demystifying the opponent ahead of a bout, "The Axe Man" Davis also taunted Nurmagomedov by according him a cheeky title "Posh Man". The Dagestani rival did not take the bait and also said he was not interested in an alias title, in any case.
During a virtual interview with Aletihad, Davis dismissed the notion that Nurmagomedov possesses the same elite wrestling fundamentals as his famous cousins, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev. He argued that the champion's grappling relies more on transitions and taking the back rather than dominant wrestling.
"If you actually pick apart what he's done, it's not been elite wrestling," Davis said. "I'd put him against a decent American or Iranian wrestler and he'd get smashed. His wrestling skills aren't great."
The 33-year-old challenger also took aim at the champion's physical presence, describing him as fragile compared to the powerful lightweights of previous eras.
Davis suggested that he intends to use his size and strength to "bully" the champion during exchanges, claiming that Nurmagomedov appears physically underwhelming for the weight class.
Beyond physical attributes, Davis questioned whether the champion possesses the necessary resilience to endure a gruelling contest. Using a metaphor to describe Nurmagomedov's upbringing in the sport, Davis suggested that a privileged training environment could be a disadvantage.
"Sometimes when people have been given everything, they don't understand the work it takes to get it," he noted. "He's got this beautiful skill set, but I don't think he has the dog in him. I think he is fake."
Davis pointed to Nurmagomedov's recent encounters with Paul Hughes as evidence of vulnerability, suggesting that the champion was "exposed" hollow in those narrow decision victories. He believes his own unpredictable, karate-based striking style will present a puzzle that the champion is unprepared to solve.
Unlike traditional strikers, Davis relies on unconventional angles and a "freestyle" approach that he believes makes his attacks impossible to anticipate.
For Davis, this fight represents the pinnacle of a 12-year journey that began at the Enfield Kickboxing Academy and continued through years of balancing sport with university studies. Now a father of three, he views the main bout event in Dubai as an opportunity to cement his legacy.
"Once I start landing on him, he hasn't really been put in deep waters," Davis said. "We're going to see what happens when he is in deep waters, and I think he's going to flake in there."
Nurmagomedov, who holds a perfect 20-0 record, arrives in Dubai as the inaugural PFL lightweight champion. Despite the challenger's critiques, the champion's record remains unblemished, and he will be fighting in front of a region where his family name carries immense weight.
The PFL: Road to Dubai event will be broadcast across the MENA region on Starzplay, with the main card scheduled to begin at 9pm local time.
For Davis, the objective is clear: to prove that a career forged through struggle can overcome a legacy built on reputation.