An unsigned MMA fighter interrupted UFC 308’s press conference on Thursday to ask Dana White for a contract.
The press conference took place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where Ilia Topuria will defend his featherweight belt against Max Holloway on Saturday.
Topuria [left] defends his featherweight belt against Holloway on SaturdayGetty
Both men took centre stage ahead of their highly anticipated main event bout on a card that also has Robert Whittaker facing off against Khamzat Chimaev over five rounds.
But the proceedings were briefly disrupted when Dorobshokh Nabotov of Tajikistan made his requsest to White.
Nabotov is an undefeated MMA fighter, having made his professional debut in January 2018.
He currently fights for AMC Fight Nights, Russia’s biggest MMA promotion, and last competed in November last year where he beat Russian Murad Bilarov via majority decision.
He certainly made the most of his chance to speak with the UFC president during the press conference.
“I am an undefeated elite athlete from Tajikistan, nine wins – zero losses,” Nabotov said, after grabbing the microphone.
“Dana I don’t have a question. I came here for a fight on short notice. I have never had a manager [and] did it all by myself.
“Please give me [a] chance Dana. I want to fight in UFC – please give me – I’m ready to show. I want to fight.”
White, who originally looked sceptical at the approach from Nabotov, then proceeded to question the 25-year-old lightweight on his career.
“Lightweight? Where were you on the Contender Series? The Contender Series just ended. Where were you?” he said.
White invited Nabotov on stage, seemingly willing to progress talks of a potential UFC boutUFC
Season eight of White’s Contender Series came to an end in October after ten weeks as numerous prospects were offered the chance to turn their dreams into reality with a UFC contract.
Although Nabotov told White his record is 9-0 in professional MMA, it is in fact 7-0. However, his comments seemed to do the trick as White proceeded to invite the Tajikistan fighter on to the stage.
The 25-year-old then happily jumped the barrier with a huge grin on his face before he was greeted with a handshake by White on stage.
White then ushered Nabotov off stage, seemingly to speak with UFC matchmakers about a potential contract.
The Tajikistan man even managed a handshake with No.1 ranked light heavyweight Magomed Ankalaev, who squares off with Aleksandar Rakic on the main card this Saturday.
Elsewhere on the card, No.12 ranked featherweight Lerone Murphy from Manchester takes on Dan Age, while Shara Magomedov faces Armen Petrosyan.
Ahead of the pair’s main event clash, Topuria has vowed to be the first man to knock out Holloway, who has never been finished in his UFC career.
Meanwhile, Whittaker has promised to do the same to Chimaev, who was forced to pull out of their original bout due to a violent illness.
White was all smiles at the UFC 308 press conference on ThursdayGetty
GettyThe champion has vowed to be the first person to knockout Holloway on Saturday[/caption]
