“I’ve always wanted that fight. For some reason, he hasn’t accepted it... When you’re in the octagon with me, you’ll realize that I’m not Jack Della Maddalena, I’m not Dan Hooker... I would really love to submit him in front of Khabib, and if Khabib wants to step in afterward, I’ll gladly step on his head too”

– via Eldoberdan MMA, firing a verbal heatseeker at Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov during an interview released on December 22, 2025..

“That wrestling he thinks he has, we'll see how well it works on me... They are so cocky and arrogant. I would really love to submit him in front of Khabib, and if Khabib wants to step in afterward, I'll gladly step on his head too”

– via interview with Eldoberdan MMA, discussing his plan to humiliate Islam Makhachev by using his own grappling against him.

“Neither one [is a threat]. The hardest fight is always with myself. Overcoming the battles, the difficult moments that i face on a daily basis, that's the hardest fight, because i feel superior to everyone. In terms of skills, bravery, and courage, i feel superior to Arman and Islam.”

– via the Eldoberdan MMA interview, downplaying the threat posed by Arman Tsarukyan and Islam Makhachev while referencing his current personal struggles.

“Neither one [is a threat]. The hardest fight is always with myself. Overcoming the battles, the difficult moments that i face on a daily basis, that's the hardest fight, because i feel superior to everyone. In terms of skills, bravery, and courage, i feel superior to Arman and Islam.”

– via the Eldoberdan MMA interview, downplaying the threat posed by Arman Tsarukyan and Islam Makhachev while referencing his current personal struggles.