“One of the best places in the world” - Akbar Abdullaev says training in Dagestan turned him into a complete monster

Akbar Abdullaev labeled Dagestan as "one of the best places in the world" for fighters.

Few destinations worldwide, if any, have created more MMA world champions than Dagestan. The Russian Republic has a new rising superstar in Abdullaev, an undefeated 27-year-old with a professional record of 11-0.

Abdullaev has continued to showcase his world-class skills in ONE Championship, where he holds a record of 3-0, all knockouts. The Kyrgyzstan native recently did an interview for his upcoming fight at ONE Fight Night 27 and had this to say about his time training in Dagestan:

"Yes, I came to Dagestan on purpose, there is a strong wrestling school and strong well-rounded fighters here, both in striking, wrestling, and mixed martial arts, one of the best places in the world."

Akbar Abdullaev's fourth promotional appearance will take place in the ONE Fight Night 27 main event against featherweight MMA world champion Tang Kai. The Chinese striker holds a promotional record of 8-0, including five wins by knockout.

ONE Fight Night 27 goes down inside the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The January 10 event can be seen live and for free by North American and Canadian viewers with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.

Take a look at the entire ONE Fight Night 27 bout lineup below:

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Akbar Abdullaev won't be eligible for world title at ONE Fight Night 27

Akbar Abdullaev was initially supposed to challenge Tang Kai for the ONE featherweight MMA world title. Unfortunately, the undefeated 27-year-old failed to pass his hydration test on weigh-in day, making him ineligible to win the strap.

Abdullaev still has plenty to prove at ONE Fight Night 27. Undefeated fighters receive plenty of praise for not losing but also have question marks about how they will fare against the division's best.

Tang is considered one of the best MMA fighters on ONE Championship's roster, so Abdullaev would gain significant respect for a win in their upcoming matchup.

Furthermore, Abdullaev could shake up the division by defeating Tang to make the featherweight MMA world title vacant. 'Bakal' would also be guaranteed a rematch against Tang after this year if he can emerge victorious at Friday's event.