Former UFC light-weight champion Khabib – who retired in 2020 after successful all 29 of his fights – has referred to Davis as a “harmful fighter”.

The Briton says he’s not sure if Khabib is praising him to hype up the bout or to floor Nurmagomedov – who he describes as an “conceited particular person”.

“I’ve had it earlier than – in the event you’re over assured you underperform, so I believe Khabib is attempting to make Usman not as assured,” stated Davis.

“Equally, it’s good to get reward from Khabib.”

Davis beat Rabadanov by touchdown the extra damaging strikes when the fighters had been on their ft, however spent the perfect a part of two rounds being out-wrestled.

Though Nurmagomedov opts to strike greater than a lot of his team-mates and coaches, Davis is anticipating him to depend on his Dagestan-famed grappling.

“He is very difficult, he is fairly a puzzle. It has been a pondering camp,” stated Davis.

“Some fighters you must work more durable for. With him I’ve needed to actually examine what he does and work out counters for it.

“I’ve had to consider what he might do, however equally remind myself he is solely human.”

Just like the struggle towards Rabadanov, Davis goes into the bout as a heavy underdog but it surely’s a place he thrives in.

“Folks really feel like Gadzhi misplaced the struggle and I did not win it, however in the event you watch it again it is not that in any respect – he was attempting to win however could not,” stated Davis.

“I believe that is what is going on to occur on Saturday.”