Timur
Valiev was one of the largest betting favorites on the card
heading into his UFC on ESPN 15 showdown with Trevin
Jones last August.
Things appeared to be going according to plan in a dominant Round 1
for the Dagestani bantamweight before Jones unleashed a counter
left hook that dropped Valiev in the second frame to secure a
massive upset victory. Though the result was later overturned to a
no contest after Jones tested positive for marijuana, the loss
still resonates with Valiev, who has since rebounded to win his
next two promotional appearances. The former PFL and WSOF talent
doesn’t mind admitting that revenge is something that drives
him.
“It would be good to fight against Trevin
Jones after our first fight. I want my payback,” Valiev said.
“We are highlanders, we are guys from mountains. This guy, Raoni
Barcelos, he beat my friend Said Numargomedov and we always pay
back. If Trevin fights me again — I know he will, I respect him —
but if we fight again, I’m going to finish him.”
Valiev scored arguably the most significant victory of his career
to date at
UFC Fight Night 190, as he survived a pair of second-round
knockdowns against Barcelos to capture a majority decision triumph
in what also turned out to be a “Fight of the Night”-winning
performance.
“I expected a hard fight against this guy, 5-0 in the UFC, I knew
he would cut my head off, but I was prepared,” Valiev said. “I
trained hard, this probably was my best camp, and I think on my
next fights, I’ll look even better. I’m starting to feel this cage,
this atmosphere, being part of the UFC… I’m so happy.”
Valiev has long been tabbed as a fighter to watch at 135 pounds,
and now he believes he’s ready to make serious headway in the UFC’s
bantamweight division. If he doesn’t get his desired rematch with
Jones, the man known as “Lucky” has his sights set on even bigger
game.
“I want the toughest guy in this division,” Valiev said. “Give me
the toughest guy like stylistically, something. I’ll kill anybody
on my way. I’m here to fight.”