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Magomed Magomedov tasted defeat once, but now he's hungry for redemption. On Friday at Bellator Champions Series: Paris, Magomedov (20-3) is set to rematch bantamweight champion Patchy Mix (19-1) at Accor Arena, aiming for both revenge and the title in one fell swoop.
“Honestly, this is perfect scenario for me, so with one shot I can kill both rabbits, right?” Magomedov told reporters through an interpreter at a virtual news conference Tuesday. “I can get my revenge and also get the Bellator title, the one that all the fighters are looking at.”
Magomedov and Mix first clashed in a non-title grand prix bout in December 2022, where Mix secured victory with a guillotine choke in Round 2. This time, Magomedov is confident the outcome will be different, believing his preparation and skill set have evolved significantly while Mix has remained the same.
Magomedov acknowledges Mix's recent success, noting his two subsequent victories. However, he remains unfazed, confident that stylistically and technically, Mix hasn't changed.
“On the mental side, he’s more confident. Stylistically and technical-wise, I believe he’s the same. Nothing much has changed for him,” Magomedov said.
Should Magomedov claim the championship gold on Friday, he has his sights set on another rematch against top contender Raufeon Stots (20-2), the only other fighter to have defeated him in Bellator. He envisions 2024 as his 'Year of Revenge,' with aspirations to settle all scores.
“Well, if everything went perfect in this fight, I would love to have my first title defense with Raufeon, as you mentioned,” Magomedov stated. “The same thing. I have to defend my title, but if the title defense is going to be a fight that I can avenge my loss, that’ll be ideal. Let’s say 2024 I’m setting the goal that it will be the ‘Year of Revenge.'”
For Magomedov, capturing the title is more than just a professional milestone—it's the pinnacle of his career.
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