Rustam Khabilov has a major hurdle to clear before he can continue his march through the lightweight ranks.
The good news is that the 29-year-old Russian has quietly put together a three-fight win streak in the UFC's deepest division; the bad news is that issues with his visa might limit his opportunities.
Following a decision win over Leandro Silva at UFC Fight Night 93 on Saturday in Hamburg, Germany, Khabilov expressed his desires and his concerns for the near future.
"I just want to prove to everyone, to myself, that I'm ready," Khabilov said via translator, according to MMAjunkie. "Besides (Edson) Barboza and (Anthony) Pettis, I also call out Michael Johnson and Gilbert Melendez."
All four fighters that Khabilov named are currently in the top 15 of the UFC's official rankings and any of them would represent a significant step up in competition for Khabilov. He's ready to fight, the only question is whether or not he'll be forced to stay closer to home or be allowed to showcase his talents in North America.
The visa issues cost Khabilov a bout with Danny Castillo at UFC 182 in Las Vegas this past January. He hasn't competed in the United States since a loss to Benson Henderson on June 7, 2014. Khabilov has been left feeling powerless as the process drags on.
"It's not denied and it's not approved - it's been pending for, I don't know (how long)," Khabilov said. "I don't know (why). They didn't say anything. I've been waiting for two years in a row, and it's still in process. A Russian and U.S. lawyer (are) working on the case, and they promise everything is going to be good, but I just don't know.
"I feel bad about this, because I lived in America for four years. I never broke any rules, I never was arrested, I never did everything. I'm just a regular fighter. For some reason, when my last visa expired, I applied for a new visa and this happened."
