Raufeon Stots 'super motivated' to hand Khabib protege first loss at PFL Chicago
Raufeon Stots faces a stern test in his pursuit to rebound at PFL Chicago. Former Bellator interim bantamweight champion Stots (21-3) takes on Renat Khavalov (11-0) on Saturday's main card (ESPN2/ESPN Deportes, ESPN app) at Wintrust Arena. Stots had an impressive rise where, at one point, his lone loss came to former UFC champion Merab Dvalishvili .
However, after splitting his past four appearances, most recently a decision loss to Sergio Pettis in June, the 37-year-old is eager to prove that he still has it. "I'm super motivated for this fight," Stots told MMA Junkie Radio. "I'm excited to remind people what I'm capable of and to fight an unfamiliar guy.
So, that, the undefeated guy, the fact that he's on the rise and under Khabib's camp, that's another skin I get to put on my wall. I'm super motivated. I'm excited to be in this position.
" Stots sees Khavalov as a matchup between two fighters who have a strong grappling game but can take the fight anywhere. "You've got two people, pretty much at the top of their game, that mix it up really well," Stots said. "You've got this American wrestler vs.
Dagestan wrestling, but who are also super well rounded. I think the fight kind of sells itself on paper. You've got a veteran, championship tested against somebody who's passed every test that he's been given.