Ilkhom Nozimov stands tall as top-of-the-line light-weight MMA fighters on the planet, however the fandom facet got here out of him throughout a latest interplay together with his idol Mirko Cro Cop. There’s a wealthy historical past associated to fight sports activities reveals in Japan for New 12 months’s Eve, with Nozimov authoring a thirteen-second KO over Roberto Satoshi de Souza to turn out to be the Rizin light-weight champion at their 2025 NYE present.
This was anecdotally vital as a result of he received into MMA watching iconic fights in Japan and when requested in regards to the significance of profitable a championship on one of many New 12 months’s Eve playing cards within the style that he did, Nozimov stated [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“Yeah, as a result of I used to be watching Pleasure and Rizin earlier than, I used to be anticipating the large occasion, however on the opening ceremony once I noticed it with my very own eyes, I truly didn’t anticipate that to be that huge, that large. Within the second once I noticed how big it’s, I noticed that’s what I used to be working for, that I used to be ready for. To be in arenas to be in large occasions like this and that’s when it lastly occurred.”
Rizin has one of many extra lovely belts in fight sports activities at present and when requested the way it felt being wrapped round his waist, Nozimov acknowledged [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“Yeah, it’s so lovely truly. Whenever you take image with it, it all the time shines. I attempt to all the time have it close to me, not additional than one meter away from me [laughs].”
Mirko Cro Cop impressed Ilkhom Nozimov to get into fight sports activities
A kind of lovely Rizin titles was additionally held by Mirko Cro Cop, who’s closing in on the 10-year anniversary of profitable his Grand Prix title with Rizin at their 2016 NYE occasion. Mirko Cro Cop was particularly influential in getting Nozimov into MMA, and he was on the 2025 RFF New 12 months’s Eve present in additional of an envoy position.
When requested if there have been any interactions that had been had with the previous Pleasure grand prix champion and K1 grand prix champion on the 2025 NYE present, Nozimov quipped [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“I used to be so shocked once I discover out that Cro Cop goes to be there. Truly like once I was a child, I had a VHS tape with Cro Cop Pleasure highlights. Once I received the affirmation that I’m going to be preventing on this New 12 months’s occasion, the music from this spotlight, I made a decision that it’s going to be my walkout music. Then throughout faceoffs once I noticed Cro Cop there, I used to be tremendous excited.”
“I get to fulfill him and it was like; me ending Satoshi, like once I noticed him in the course of the face off that was like a closing straw in me realizing that that is my second. I’m going to take it. Every little thing goes my method and yeah. I get to fulfill him after the occasion and I truly advised him my story that his highlights that’s one thing that impressed me to do the fight sports activities. That impressed me to dream about preventing in Japan and profitable belts in Japan.”
“I get to know him after this occasion on a private stage. He truly adopted me on Instagram and invited me to coach with him for a few weeks. So, it’s; I contemplate it a second win for me, too. Sure.”
When touching upon what it could be wish to share this coaching expertise with Mirko Cro Cop, each time that finally ends up taking place, Nozimov stated [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“For me, it’s going to be an enormous expertise. It’s going to be one other dream come true.”
