Alex Chizov is set to face Gadzhi Rabadanov in the co-main event of PFL Sioux Falls on May 2nd. Chizov, acknowledging that Rabadanov is the second-ranked lightweight in the PFL, shared his perspective on the significance of this career-defining challenge. Speaking to Bowks Talking Bouts, Chizov elaborated on his journey:
“Yes, listen, I’m from Latvia. It’s a small, small country in Europe. 99% of people in the world don’t even know it exists. So for me, when I was starting my MMA career, as we all know, the States is the biggest place to fight. The highest-level sports events, biggest sports events are here, the biggest names. So for me, for a young kid who was starting an MMA career in a small, small country like where the sport’s level is so low, just to make it to the US and fight here.”
“Like in one of the biggest leagues in the world against, like, a top-level guy, man, it’s like a dream come true. Like if you had told me this 10 years ago that I would be here and everything would happen like this, I would say, guys, you’re probably confusing me with someone else. Like it’s not real. So for me now, I’m just enjoying every second of this process because for me, it’s really nice.”
Chizov also touched upon the unique circumstances many mixed martial artists overcome. When asked about his challenges in reaching his current position, he stated to Bowks Talking Bouts:
“Yes. For me, like I say, when I was starting my MMA career in our country, we didn’t have any high-level fighters worldwide who I could show my parents and say, ‘Listen, I want to be like him. He succeeded in this, so I will try too.’ We didn’t have that athlete in our country. So for me, it was like I’m the first guy who is paving this path from my country to the worldwide big MMA scene. So for me, I think it’s twice as hard when you’re the first one. But it’s also a big privilege. So I’m grateful.”
Regarded by many as the premier MMA fighter in Latvia, Chizov’s success has the potential to significantly bolster the national sports landscape. Discussing the pressure and pride associated with this distinction, Alex Chizov remarked to Bowks Talking Bouts:
“Of course. Pressure is always there, but pressure is good. Pressure makes me feel sharper, and also, of course, it’s like we are Latvians. We are less than two million in the whole world, a really small country, and like for me, I just want to show to the other guys, other people, that everything is possible. That you don’t need to be scared of dreaming big, and it doesn’t matter what country you’re from. England, America, Brazil, or like small f***ing Latvia.”
“Nowadays, it’s not that important. Like I just want to show to all people in my country that with the right attitude, with hard work, self-belief, you can achieve a lot. So yeah, it’s a big [source of pride] for me to carry my flag on a big stage.”
Alex Chizov’s impressive record includes multiple Latvian combat sambo titles, regional MMA belts, and a PFL Europe title. When asked about how this contest could propel him towards a PFL world title shot, Chizov told Bowks Talking Bouts:
“Really good. A big opportunity to fight in the States, and my first fight in the States, co-main event against the second-ranked guy. So sometimes I just wake up, and I’m not like I’m sleeping. Like one year ago, I was in a different position, and now, like, it just shows how fast things change in the sport. How you can change your life in one year, like, time is just crazy.”
“Like I remember one year ago, I was watching guys like Gadzhi Rabadanov, all of them. I was thinking, ‘Oh, it would be good to like fight them after maybe two years, three years in the future.’ Now, like, one year later, I’m f***ing fighting Gadzhi in a co-main event, like crazy. Really, really grateful.”
Alex Chizov Remains Focused on His Own Path, Unconcerned by Khabib’s Protege Status
Khabib Nurmagomedov has publicly praised Gadzhi Rabadanov, who trains regularly with the former UFC lightweight champion’s team. When questioned about how he views this matchup against ‘The Eagle’s’ protégé, Alex Chizov stated to Bowks Talking Bouts:
“First of all, like, I think my strongest part in me is my mentality. I don’t even care [that] he’s from Dagestan, he’s from Khabib’s team. We all know that Khabib’s team produces some of the best fighters in the world. Yeah, I think a lot of people who are going to fight with their team members start overthinking. They think they’re fighting Khabib or Islam [Makhachev]. I just don’t care. Like for me, it’s cool that I’m fighting the; I know personally that like Khabib’s team produces some of the best fighters in the world.”
“I have the opportunity to fight one of them. Since day one in the PFL, my goal was to fight the best guys, beat them, and become a champion. So it’s great because, like, even in life, people who see when the fight was announced, they start to think, ‘Oh God, like it’s a Khabib [team fighter]. Like, it’s a Dagestani, like it’s too much. I’m not on this level,’ and blah, blah, blah. Like I said, people from the beginning, they’re just scared of one thing: that it’s like a Dagestani or Khabib team. But me, I just don’t care about that.”
“I’m going to fight another man, same as me. He’s good. He’s experienced. Cool, same as me. So like, those types of things just don’t bother me. Like I believe in myself. I believe in my hard work, and that’s all that matters. This fight only excites me because I was never a guy who wanted to search for easy ways to become the best. I know a lot of guys do. Like they pick their opponents. This is my 17th professional fight.”
“I was never picking, and in all my 16-17 fights, I was never [saying] no to anyone. For me, like, if you want to be the best, which I truly want to be, you cannot lie to yourself. You can’t beat the; fight average guys, beat them, and just like think that you’re legit.”
“Because when you go to sleep by yourself, alone, you cannot lie to yourself. But you know that you’re not. So for me, like fighting him, it’s like an opportunity to prove to myself, to prove to my country, to the world that I can be that caliber of fighter like all these guys. So, great opportunity. Nothing else.”
