Exclusive: After losing $1 million to Russian rival, Sadibou Sy claims rematch is ‘sweeter’ against Magomedkerimov

Sadibou Sy talks about his motivation and training partners ahead of the PFL 10 finale against Magomed Magomedkerimov.

Exclusive: After losing $1 million to Russian rival, Sadibou Sy claims rematch is ‘sweeter’ against Magomedkerimov

Sadibou Sy on fighting Magomed Magomedkerimov (Image via: Instagram/Sadibou Sy, Magomed Magomedkerimov)

Sasibou Sy will aim to win $1 million at PFL 10 which is the finale of the playoffs of the 2023 season. He will face Magomed Magomedkerimov in the final of the 2023 PFL Welterweight Tournament Final. Firstsportz’ Ajinkya Aswale recently interviewed Sadibou Sy.

During the interview, Sy explained the mentality of going into a fight with Magomedkerimov. This is what Sy said:

I wouldn't be more or less motivated for someone else, but I believe it would be a little bit more sweet because he got one over me.
Sadibou Sy via FirstSportz
YouTube video

Sy won the 2022 PFL Welterweight Tournament but lost in the 2021 PFL edition in the semi-finals to Magomedkerimov. Magomed Magomedkerimov is the winner of the 2018 edition of the tournament and also a finalist in the 2021 edition. PFL 10 2023 will be held at the Anthem in Washington, DC. The event is presumed to be the last event for PFL before its rumored acquisition of Bellator MMA.

FS Video

Sy trains at Extreme Couture and is a training partner of UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland. Moreover, he also trained with Khamzat Chimaev when the Chechen fighter trained at Extreme Couture. Sy said nice things about Strickland and Chimaev. Furthermore, he is very happy with both Strickland and Chimaev concerning their careers.

Sadibou Sy explains the importance of visualization in combat sports

At PFL 6 in June of 2023, Sadibou Sy knocked out of Shane Mitchell with a spinning wheel kick. The knockout went viral, and it even garnered praise from boxing legend Mike Tyson. The viral knockout made Sadibou Sy a household name in the MMA community.

Sadibou Sy
Sadibou Sy (Image via: Yahoo Sports)

Sy attributed the knockout to visualization. He is a big proponent of visualization. Apparently, he visualized the viral knockout and even predicted it before the fight. Therefore, he was not even surprised by his knockout of Mitchell. In the interview with Ajinkya Aswale of Firstsportz, Sy cited the importance of visualization. This is what he said.

I'm a very big advocate of visualization. I like to visualize; I like to speak about it. When I can see it, then I can go after it.

For Sy, the visualization element applies to life as well. Sy is also one of the most dynamic strikers in MMA. Sean Strickland recently praised Sy as the best striker he has trained with. For context, Strickland has faced both Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya inside the octagon. He lost to Pereira but won the middleweight title from Adesanya at UFC 293.

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