Twitter callout got Rustam Khabilov his big shot at UFC Fight Night 42

(This story first appeared in Friday’s USA TODAY.)

UFC lightweight Rustam Khabilov was feeling bad about having to withdraw from a bout with fellow standout Rafael dos Anjos at February’s UFC 170.

So he got on his phone and did what many young fighters do when they want to right a wrong. He started talking, in 140 characters or less.

For the Dagestan-born Khabilov (17-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC), however, this wasn’t an everyday choice. He isn’t exactly the guy who obsessively grabs at his smartphone for online chatter. And he definitely isn’t thinking up digs to get one over on his next opponent.

But he had a wish: to fight ex-UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson (20-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC). His manager and coach said he was ready. Why not give Twitter a shot?

The 27-year-old fighter smiles recounting his journey to the Henderson bout, which headlines Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 42 (FOX Sports 1, 10 p.m. ET) at Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, N.M.

“I tried Twitter for the first time,” Khabilov told USA TODAY Sports, and then added, “It worked – this guy said yes!”

Henderson, as it turns out, was listening (or perhaps was gently encouraged by UFC matchmakers to play along). In response to Khabilov’s respectful callout, he said it was “mysterious” the fighter had trouble finding fights and would be his huckleberry.

Not every UFC fighter can bag big game on his first tweet – especially somebody who’s virtually undefeated and gets lumped in with an influx of fighters from Dagestan. Khabilov, as well as standouts Ali Baugatinov and Khabib Nurmagomedov, haven’t lost in the octagon and yet still struggle to break through with fans, to say nothing of their UFC stablemates, who might not see the value of fighting a virtual no-name.

Then again, with three straight wins, Khabilov might have proven that himself.

“I think his performances in past fights informed [the UFC] that this kid is doing well,” said Khabilov’s coach, Greg Jackson. “If [social media] is the way you get the fight you want, every one of my guys would be tweeting all day long.”

Whatever the reason, Henderson accepted, and for that, Khabilov is grateful. And a little surprised.

“In Russia, people didn’t believe (I got the fight) when I texted him,” he said. “People didn’t believe I am fighting a top-15 opponent.”

Khabilov is actually selling Henderson short – in USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie’s MMA lightweight rankings, the ex-champ sits at No. 2. It’s undoubtedly the biggest opportunity of Khabilov’s MMA career, which began in 2007 after a successful career in Russia’s most popular combat sport, Sambo.

“[Henderson's] striking is very good, and he’s a good athlete, but my wrestling is not bad,” Khabilov said. “We’ll see if his striking is better or my wrestling is better.”

Currently unranked, Khabilov will take a big jump with a win. He’ll be the guy others call out in the 155-pound division for a change.

What he won’t be, however, is a guy on social media. Although his feed is filled with posts, Khabilov said he tweeted just one more thing.

“I wrote, ‘Congratulations for your marriage,’” he said. “No more.”

For the latest on UFC Fight Night 42, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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