Khurshed
Kakhorov believes Oktagon 85 has the potential to deliver one of
the most violent headliners in the promotion’s history.
With the vacant bantamweight title on the line live from the
Barclays Arena in Hamburg, Germany, “The Killer” has been tasked
with taking out former
Ultimate Fighting Championship prospect Igor
Severino.
Advertisement
Severino (9-1) went viral two years ago after he infamously bit
Andre
Lima midway through the second round of his UFC debut. “The
Hannibal” was instantly cut by the promotion but found a home with
Oktagon MMA, where he’s rebranded himself after
the legendary film villain and cannibal Hannibal Lecter. But
Kakhorov isn’t amused by Severino’s mind games and promises to make
the 22-year-old pay if he even considers chewing his way out of a
defeat Saturday night.
“I can kill him, like I will kill him and put an end to this
Hannibal stuff,” Kakhorov warned while sitting down with
Sherdog.com. “He’s strong and dangerous. Very explosive, but I am
more of a threat than him. He’s never fought a guy like me.”
Kakohorov’s (13-1) confidence stems from the five-fight win streak
he carries into the cage and nine knockouts on his ledger. The 2023
Professional Fighters League Europe bantamweight champion was
on a tear, but has been sidelined since June 2024. Kakohorov was
initially signed to fight Severino for the title last October, but
a staph infection made Kakohorov’s fight camp a nightmare. He
missed weight, and then the bout was scrapped altogether due to his
health issues. With that setback behind him, the Tajikistan native
believes now is the perfect time to add another belt around his
waist.
Preparing for a title shot has forced the 34-year-old to sharpen
his entire skill set. Despite being known for his explosive
striking, Kakhorov thinks his grappling could play a major role in
the fight and is prepared to submit the Brazilian if the
opportunity presents itself.
“I can grapple and can finish him on the ground too, but I prefer
to stay standing and strike,” Kakhorov boasted. “That’s the reason
why I don’t go to the ground. For me, it’s a little bit boring when
I go to ground and pound. I do want to prove that I can submit to
people.”
But for Kakhorov, Saturday’s showdown signifies another opportunity
to express his violent nature. He doesn’t concern himself with game
plans or storylines. When the cage door closes, Kakhorov’s only
focus is on dismantling the man in front of him. And he promises to
deliver the carnage the fans desire.
“I fight because I enjoy it,” he said. “I don’t think about how to
win. I think about how to destroy my opponent. I don’t tell myself
that ‘I need to be careful here,’ I’m not careful. I’m here simply
to fight.”