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Tag: Khabib Nurmagomedov

  • UFC Legend Khabib Nurmagomedov Rubbishes Dana White’s Claim About His MMA Retirement – ‘Piece Of Garbage’

    Khabib Nurmagomedov has pushed back strongly against past comments made by Dana White regarding the reasons behind his retirement from mixed martial arts.

    “The Eagle” walked away from the sport in October 2020, immediately after submitting Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. That victory not only marked his third successful title defense but also sealed a flawless professional record of 29-0, making him one of the few fighters to retire undefeated at the highest level.

    The former UFC lightweight champion’s decision at the time was deeply personal. Following the passing of his father and longtime coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov earlier that year, he revealed that he had promised his mother he would not continue fighting without him.

    However, during an interview on the Prince St. Pizza YouTube channel last year, White suggested that financial success may have also influenced the decision, claiming the Dagestani star earned substantial money during appearances across Muslim-majority countries after his win over Conor McGregor.

    Those remarks did not sit well with Nurmagomedov.

    “These are the kinds of headlines I sometimes read online. Of course, I’m not someone who likes to comment on every piece of garbage on the internet, but when Dana says things like this, it spreads everywhere,” he wrote on social media.

    “I’ll say this: I swear by Allah, this is an absolute lie. Nobody ever gave me those millions, and what they’re writing, that I left the sport because I made a lot of money, is also not true. The whole world knows the real truth.

    “I’ve already spoken about this more than once, and there’s no need to repeat it.”

  • Arman Tsarukyan Says McGregor vs. Khabib Proves UFC Rewards Chaos Over Competition

    Arman Tsarukyan Says McGregor vs. Khabib Proves UFC Rewards Chaos Over Competition

    Arman Tsarukyan has a theory about what the UFC actually values in 2026, and he believes his own non-stop activity outside the cage is proof the promotion has embraced it.

    Speaking to Patrick Bet-David, Tsarukyan argued that drama and viral moments have become more important to the sport’s growth than the fights themselves. He cited the most significant period in UFC history as evidence.

    “It’s good for the UFC. You think they didn’t like it? They liked it. The sport is getting big because of drama, not because of fighting. Like Conor, Khabib, Diaz — the trash talk, everything.

    Not just fighting, but what’s going on before the fight. The bus thing went viral too. Because of that, that fight was the biggest fight in the UFC. If it wasn’t for the conflict before that, yeah, Conor-Khabib, they talk s— in the press conference, they fight, it’s gone.”

    Tsarukyan last competed in October when he submitted Dan Hooker. His most recent significant win before that came in 2024 when he defeated Charles Oliveira by decision.

    He does not currently have a fight booked but is widely expected to challenge the winner of the Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje lightweight title fight at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14. He has also offered to serve as backup for that matchup.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Explains Why He Would Beat Khabib Nurmagomedov

    Arman Tsarukyan Explains Why He Would Beat Khabib Nurmagomedov

    Arman Tsarukyan has explained why he believes he would defeat UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov in a hypothetical matchup. The lightweight contender shared his thoughts on how a fight between the two Dagestani fighters would play out.

    Tsarukyan, who has emerged as one of the top contenders in the UFC lightweight division, addressed the fantasy matchup during a recent interview. The fighter outlined his approach to facing the undefeated former champion.

    Tsarukyan’s Confidence Against Nurmagomedov

    The lightweight contender believes his skill set would present problems for Nurmagomedov. “I’m more well-rounded than him,” he said. “Probably decision.”

    Nurmagomedov retired from MMA in 2020 with a perfect 29-0 record and is widely regarded as one of the greatest lightweights in UFC history. The Dagestani legend never lost a round in his final three title defenses.

    Current Lightweight Landscape

    Tsarukyan has positioned himself as a top contender in the lightweight division. The matchup with Nurmagomedov remains purely hypothetical, as the former champion has shown no indication of returning to competition.

    Both fighters share Dagestani heritage and train in similar grappling-heavy styles that have proven successful at the highest levels of MMA.

  • Khabib Over Jones: Coach Argues GOAT Status Hinges on PEDs

    Khabib Over Jones: Coach Argues GOAT Status Hinges on PEDs

    Javier Mendez, coach of Khabib Nurmagomedov (29-0), believes Jon Jones’ (28-1) multiple PED violations disqualify him from GOAT status. Mendez argues that in true sports, cheaters should not be considered at the top.

    Mendez made his case during an appearance on The Ahmad Mahmood Show. He stated that he and Khabib Nurmagomedov are now focused on training Usman Nurmagomedov. Jon Jones has a 28-1 record, with 12 light heavyweight title defenses, and recently won the heavyweight title and defended it once before retiring. Khabib Nurmagomedov retired after defending the UFC lightweight title three times, last against Justin Gaethje in 2020.

    Mendez on Jones’ Controversies

    Speaking with Ahmad Mahmood, Mendez explained why he believes Khabib is the GOAT over Jon Jones, citing Jones’ past controversies. “The GOAT for me is Khabib, and I would put Jon Jones in that category, but I can’t,” Mendez said.

    Mendez continued, “If you’re caught doing something you shouldn’t have been doing, how can you be considered at the top of the league? This is a true sport, and in a true sport you cannot put that person ahead. How many people have won Olympic gold medals and then they find out they cheated and got the medals taken away from them?”

    Jones’ sole loss was a disqualification for a 12-to-6 elbow, later legalized; his career has been marred by multiple drug testing violations.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov opens up on the passing of his father and the impact it had on his MMA career

    Khabib Nurmagomedov opens up on the passing of his father and the impact it had on his MMA career

    UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has opened up on how the passing of his father back in 2020 impacted his mixed martial arts career.

    As we know, Khabib Nurmagomedov is widely considered to be one of the greatest fighters of all time. He retired with an incredible 29-0 record in the sport, and along the way, he defeated legends like Conor McGregor, Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier and Rafael dos Anjos.

    However, following his win over Gaethje, Khabib Nurmagomedov made the decision to retire in the aftermath of his father’s passing.

    In a recent interview, Khabib Nurmagomedov went into more detail about the process of him deciding to fight one more time before eventually walking away.

    Khabib Nurmagomedov discusses his father’s passing

    “It was not only mother, it was all situation that happened, everything coming together,” Nurmagomedov said. “I saw a lot of rumors why I retired, because of that, because of this, and I think if my father still alive, he would make me fight a little bit longer, because I just turned 32 when I finished.

    “But he passed away and it was a very honest and good conversation with [my mother]. It’s hard to explain. Everything happened so fast. 

    “Everything was happening so fast, even when father passed away, I don’t even have time to think what I have to do because they make interim title, Justin Gaethje-Tony Ferguson, father passed away, and UFC told me, ‘We’re going to give you one month off. After one month, come back to us with what you’re going to do.’

    “It was a very difficult situation. From one side, it was all world waiting for this fight. On the other side, I had this deal, what happened with me and father and mother on the other side, and I chose what mother wished. ”

    Quotes via MMA Fighting

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Reveals His Top 3 Favorite Fighters of All-Time

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Reveals His Top 3 Favorite Fighters of All-Time

    UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has listed his three favorite fighters of all time.

    As we know, Khabib Nurmagomedov has been recognized as one of the greatest to ever compete in mixed martial arts for many years now. He retired as champion, he retired with an undefeated record, and he retired after defeating some of the biggest names in the history of the lightweight division. Nowadays, he focuses his attention on helping to grow the legacy and reputation of his family as they continue to thrive in their own right.

    Of course, Khabib Nurmagomedov didn’t just fall into MMA or wrestling one day – he was inspired to do it. When he was younger, he sat and watched some of the greatest of all time compete just like we all did, before going on to (arguably) surpass their legacies.

    In a recent interview, Khabib Nurmagomedov named three of his favorite fighters from back in the day.

    Khabib Nurmagomedov lists his favorite fighters

    “When I grew up it was two, maybe three. Three of my favorite fighters when I was, 16? They was on prime. It was Fedor, it was Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua, and Georges St-Pierre. It was on prime. It was UFC, Pride champions. I grew up watching their fights.

    “When I met them first [time], it was very big [and] emotional for me, because I grew up with their fights.”

    We’ll likely never see Khabib compete again, but it’s fun to know that he looked up to many of the fighters that most of us knew and loved.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Has a Loss and is not Undefeated – UFC Commentator Explains

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Has a Loss and is not Undefeated – UFC Commentator Explains

    UFC commentator Joe Rogan believes that there’s one fight in the career of Khabib Nurmagomedov that he should’ve lost.

    As we know, Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. He retired from the sport with an incredible 29-0 record, and he was able to defeat some big names throughout the course of his career – including Conor McGregor, Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier.

    While he’s been retired for five years now, Khabib Nurmagomedov is still very highly thought of and is constantly featured in the GOAT debate. However, there have been a few instances over the years in which he was in trouble during his fights.

    Some even believe that Khabib Nurmagomedov should’ve lost via decision in a fight with Gleison Tibau many years ago. As it turns out, Joe Rogan falls into that category.

    Joe Rogan believes Khabib Nurmagomedov should have lost one fight

    “I think that’s the one guy that should have beat him,” Rogan said during the most recent episode of “JRE Fight Companion.” “If you look at the record, Khabib’s got an undefeated record, (but) there’s an asterisk. That asterisk is Gleison Tibau. That was a very f*cking close fight that I thought Khabib lost, but it was early in Khabib’s career. You know, it was before he won the title.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

    Khabib won’t care all too much about this opinion, especially considering the likes of Jon Jones and Georges St-Pierre have been involved in similarly questionable decisions over the years.

  • Daniel Cormier Strongly Refutes Khabib Nurmagomedov Giving Arman Tsarukyan ’80-20′ Chance To Beat Ilia Topuria – ‘I Don’t Believe That for One Second’

    Daniel Cormier Strongly Refutes Khabib Nurmagomedov Giving Arman Tsarukyan ’80-20′ Chance To Beat Ilia Topuria – ‘I Don’t Believe That for One Second’

    Daniel Cormier holds a contrasting view to Khabib Nurmagomedov when it comes to Ilia Topuria vs. Arman Tsarukyan.

    Topuria is widely regarded as one of the most well-rounded fighters in modern MMA, holding a flawless 17-0 record with 15 finishes, including victories over former UFC champions Charles Oliveira, Max Holloway, and Alexander Volkanovski.

    Adding to his legacy, “El Matador” etched his name in history by becoming a two-division UFC champion, securing the lightweight crown with a knockout win over Oliveira at UFC 317.

    However, “The Eagle” believes Topuria’s reign could be in serious jeopardy if he ever defends his title against Tsarukyan. Nurmagomedov recently claimed that “Ahalkalakets” is far more skilled than the Spaniard and would surely defeat him should they cross paths inside the Octagon.

    Images: @iliatopuria/@arm_011/Instagram

    Daniel Cormier Disputes Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Assessment Of Ilia Topuria Potentially Struggling Against Arman Tsarukyan

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Daniel Cormier shared his thoughts on Khabib Nurmagomedov heavily favoring Arman Tsarukyan to defeat reigning UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria in a potential showdown.

    “80-20 [%] is crazy, though. 80-20 is hard when anyone’s fighting,” Cormier said. “The only time 80-20 could be thought of in fights has been in the case of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Jon Jones. They’re the only people that have gone through this whole thing without losing. They are the only two. So you could have possibly said, ‘Well, yeah, it’s probably about 80% that guy’s way, because they never lose.”

    The UFC Hall of Famer firmly pushed back against his former training partner Nurmagomedov’s assertion, arguing that a fighter of Topuria’s caliber is not someone who can be dismissed so easily.

    “Guess who else hasn’t lost? Ilia Topuria. To put him on the opposite side of that 80%-20% is crazy. I don’t believe that for one second. I really do disagree with Khabib on that one. There is not a guy in the world that I believe is gonna beat Ilia Topuria 8 out of 10 times. That’s the truth.”

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov: Ilia Topuria Doesn’t Stand A Chance Against Arman Tsarukyan’s Wrestling & Ground Game

    Khabib Nurmagomedov: Ilia Topuria Doesn’t Stand A Chance Against Arman Tsarukyan’s Wrestling & Ground Game

    Khabib Nurmagomedov doubts Ilia Topuria has what it takes to overcome Arman Tsarukyan.

    After Islam Makhachev opted to vacate the lightweight title and move up to welterweight, Topuria claimed the vacant belt with a devastating first-round knockout of former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 this past June.

    “El Matador” has a stacked lineup of challengers for his first title defense, including Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje, with Tsarukyan currently leading as the No. 1 contender. That said, the undefeated champion has yet to reveal a preferred matchup.

    Nurmagomedov sees “Ahalkalakets” as the rightful contender and capable of cutting Ilia Topuria’s reign short.

    MMA Legend Backs Arman Tsarukyan As 'Rightful' Next Challenger For Ilia Topuria
    Images: @arm_011/@ufc/Instagram

    Khabib Believes Arman Tsarukyan Holds ’80-20′ Edge Over Ilia Topuria

    During a recent interview with Kamil Gadzhiyev (via Championship Rounds), Khabib Nurmagomedov shared his thoughts on a potential title clash between reigning UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan. The UFC Hall of Famer highlighted “Ahalkalakets” as the more skilled fighter, warning that he could pose a significant threat to Topuria.

    “I don’t see a chance for Topuria,” Nurmagomedov said. “A big punch is a [not going to work]. Arman fights with strikers from a distance too much. He keeps his distance well, works better with his legs, and now Arman is too good… I think right now, the best lightweight is [Tsarukyan].”

    Nurmagomedov added that Tsarukyan offers a perfect counter to “El Matador’s” striking-heavy style, using relentless chain wrestling and takedown attempts to shut down any offensive opportunities.

    “Arman can take him down. He has good elbows on the ground. Very good elbows. He can wrestle, armbar, take the back. But he simply won’t fight at this dangerous distance with Topuria. There are too many fights already he can watch, study. If at the beginning they somehow fought, maybe he would have a chance.

    “I’d say it’s 80-20 in Arman’s favor. … Wrestling has always ruled, especially in such fights. We all know the level of wrestling that Holloway and Charles Oliveira had. It’s practically nonexistent. … He’s only fought strikers.”

    Arman Tsarukyan last stepped into the Octagon at UFC 300 in April 2024, securing a hard-fought split decision victory over Charles Oliveira. He is riding a four-fight win streak and boasts a UFC record of 9-2, including knockouts against Beneil Dariush and Joaquim Silva.

    Meanwhile, Ilia Topuria remains unbeaten in his professional career, boasting a 17-0 record overall and 9-0 in the UFC, with finishes over Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Bryce Mitchell.

    UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria.
    Image: @iliatopuria/Instagram
  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Will Not Say Conor McGregor’s Name – Explained

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Will Not Say Conor McGregor’s Name – Explained

    UFC commentator Daniel Cormier has spoken about the depths of the rivalry between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor.

    Back in late 2018, Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Conor McGregor via submission at UFC 229. He largely dominated the Irishman for most of the fight, and while Conor had his moments, it was Khabib who really made the headlines that night.

    Ever since then, the rivalry between the two has continued. Conor McGregor constantly goes after Khabib Nurmagomedov on social media even to this day, even if Khabib largely stays out of it.

    In a recent interview, however, Daniel Cormier revealed that Khabib Nurmagomedov certainly isn’t willing to forget everything that McGregor put him through.

    Daniel Cormier discusses Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Conor McGregor

    “He won’t say (McGregor’s) name still today,” Cormier said of Nurmagomedov on “Club Shay Shay.” “He still does not say his name. He still won’t say his name. Last week, he did an interview in New York and he says, ‘This guy.’ He’ll never say his name. He hates him. Dude, they’re in the octagon and Conor goes, he whispers after the third round after Khabib’s beating (him), ‘It’s just business.’ Khabib goes, ‘No it ain’t. No it ain’t.’ You don’t mess with them dudes, man.

    “He was going to kill him. He was going to put him to sleep. He was holding him and he said, ‘I kicked your ass. I kicked your ass.’ Then he jumped over the fence and tried to beat his team. I was like, ‘Whoa!’ But dude, he had him. He was not going to let him go because he felt his family got so disrespected by this dude that he wanted to end him. And honestly, sometimes you bite off more than you can chew because Conor got beat bad that night. He got beat bad.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • Islam Makhachev’s retirement: Khabib gives honest opinion of his timeline

    Islam Makhachev’s retirement: Khabib gives honest opinion of his timeline

    UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has given his thoughts on a potential timeline for the mixed martial arts retirement of Islam Makhachev.

    At the age of 33, Islam Makhachev has already achieved some incredible things in the sport of mixed martial arts. Now, though, he’s hoping to take things to a whole new level as he prepares to challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the UFC welterweight championship. If he wins, he would join an exclusive club of fighters who have won UFC world titles in two different weight classes.

    One question that has been circulating recently is also a pretty important one: when will Islam Makhachev retire?

    Nobody knows for sure but in a recent interview, Islam Makhachev’s close friend and long-time training partner Khabib Nurmagomedov provided some insight.

    Khabib Nurmagomedov discusses Islam Makhachev’s eventual MMA retirement

    “Islam maybe, my honest opinion, one and a half, two years because [his] age [in] October is going to be 34. Nobody is going to be [the] same. When time comes, they don’t ask what’s your name… When you become 35, you need to stop doing this because [you should] leave this sport for young guys.

    “When you become 35 and you don’t finish, somebody is going to finish you. Why? It’s better to finish. After 35, you’re never going to be the same. People can talk whatever they want, when you’re past your prime, you [are] going to fight only for money.”

    Quotes via Bloody Elbow

    Enjoy him while you still can, folks.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Offers Hope to Conor McGregor, Claiming He Can Still Change

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Offers Hope to Conor McGregor, Claiming He Can Still Change

    UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov is of the belief that his long time rival Conor McGregor is still capable of changing his ways.

    As we know, Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. He was able to retire from the sport with an undefeated record of 29-0, and his most notable win came against Conor McGregor. The two battled it out back in late 2018 in the most lucrative fight in the history of the sport, and in the end, it was Khabib who managed to secure the win via submission.

    Ever since then, it feels like McGregor has been on something of a downward spiral. While Khabib Nurmagomedov was able to ride off into the sunset during the pandemic, Conor hasn’t quite retired – or, at least, not properly. He’s also been embroiled in numerous controversies outside of the cage, and that’s putting it lightly.

    During a recent interview, Khabib Nurmagomedov surprised many by suggesting that there is a route back from the edge for the Irishman.

    Khabib Nurmagomedov believes there’s a way back for Conor McGregor

    “I don’t wanna mention his name,” the 29-0 Russian began.

    “This is punishment… The most beautiful part of this is Allah always give the chance to come back.

    “We always have in this world the chance to come back, and this is the most beautiful thing.

    “It doesn’t matter how you’ve been, Allah is gonna give you a chance always to come back.

    “I think he has a chance. He has to change how he is living.

    “Why am I talking about this? If he’s gonna change, he can change with him so many other lives too.

    “That’s why I wish him to change himself. If he’s not gonna change, it will be punishment all his life.”

    Quotes via Bloody Elbow

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Sends a Message of Inspiration to Palestine

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Sends a Message of Inspiration to Palestine

    UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has sent a message of positivity to the people of Palestine in the midst of the ongoing occupation and genocide in the country.

    For the longest time now, Khabib Nurmagomedov has served as an inspiration to people all over the world. In addition to his magnificent mixed martial arts career, he’s also done everything in his power to help the masses. Khabib is a proud Muslim and, as you can imagine, he’s been deeply impacted by what has been going on in Gaza over the course of the last few years.

    Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear as if there is any immediate end to the tragedies that are happening, despite the outcry from so many. In a recent video, Khabib Nurmagomedov sent out a wonderful message to those who are currently suffering.

    Khabib Nurmagomedov sends a message to the people of Gaza

    “I just wanna tell you guys, you guys inspire the world. Because of you guys, so many millions of people understand who is who, and they understand how beautiful is our religion. Alhamdulillah. Keep inspiring the people, keep inspiring the world. One day, Inshallah, Allah will make easy.”

    “We will land in Palestinian airport one day.”

    Khabib is a man who sticks by his morals and has done for his entire life. While the people of Palestine may not currently be free, we can only hope and pray that as the days, weeks and months continue to tick by, we get closer and closer to a peaceful resolution.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Says Usman Nurmagomedov Will Rematch Paul Hughes In October

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Says Usman Nurmagomedov Will Rematch Paul Hughes In October

    Perhaps one of the most talked about fighters in PFL over the past year has been Paul Hughes — and one of the most talked about fights over the past year in the organization is Usman Nurmagomedov’s narrow, controversial win over Hughes at PFL Champions Series 1 in January to retain the Bellator lightweight title in its final title bout ever.

    Many in the MMA community have wondered since, and some even begged the PFL, to make the rematch — undoubtedly one of the promotion’s most anticipated and hoped-for bouts ever. And if the words of Usman’s cousin, Khabib Nurmagomedov, are anything to listen to, he has offered hope.

    During a conversation with the streamer Sneako, the retired undefeated former UFC lightweight champion suggests that Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes 2 has been signed on for October.

    Specifically, according to Khabib Nurmagomedov, the fight would take place on October 4 in Dubai. If true, and given the PFL event dates known thus far for fall (with PFL MENA and Europe holding semifinal events the weekend of Sept. 26-28) this could potentially serve as the headliner of a third PFL Champions Series event.

    Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes To Take Place In Dubai On October 4?

    If Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes 2 follows the circumstances set by Johnny Eblen vs. Costello Van Steenis a couple of weeks ago, the winner of this bout would most likely be named the inaugural PFL lightweight champion.

    In what was one of the more entertaining fights in MMA during 2025, Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes this past January featured plenty of high-paced striking exchanges, strong clinch battles, and late-fight drama, courtesy of Nurmagomedov getting deducted a point.

    Hughes, who fired off a strong late flurry, was unable to get the win controversially. While one judge scored the bout a 47-47 draw, the other two judges gave 48-46 totals in Nurmagomedov’s favor.

    Hughes rebounded from the loss with a 42-second finish of Bruno Miranda at the PFL Europe event in Belfast this past May.

    Nurmagomedov has not been in action since defeating Hughes.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Claims Islam Makhachev Will Challenge Jack Della Maddalena At UFC 322

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Claims Islam Makhachev Will Challenge Jack Della Maddalena At UFC 322

    Islam Makhachev has been expected to challenge for the welterweight championship since those rumors first surfaced early this year. And now, it appears Khabib Nurmagomedov may have dropped a hint of the timeframe.

    During a recent sit-down (video courtesy of The Cornell Combat Sports Show), Nurmagomedov said that, as rumors have indicated, Makhachev will challenge reigning welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322.

    Rumors are UFC 322 is being planned for November 15 at — per usual with the UFC’s pay-per-view schedule — New York’s Madison Square Garden.

    Islam Makhachev vs. Jack Della Maddalena At UFC 322 Confirmed By Khabib Nurmagomedov?

    Makhachev will be stepping up to welterweight for this bout, as planned when it was announced by UFC CEO and President Dana White that he would be vacating the UFC lightweight title.

    The lightweight title would end up going to Ilia Topuria, who bested Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 back in June. Topuria vacated his own featherweight title in the process, as he had planned since last year to challenge Makhachev. Plans changed, however, following Della Maddalena defeating Belal Muhammad for the 170-pound title at UFC 315 in May.

    Makachev originally won the lightweight title in a bout against Oliveira at UFC 280. Makhachev defended the title successfully a record four consecutive times, defeating Alexander Volkanovski twice, Dustin Poirier, and Renato Moicano.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov: Jon Jones’ Legacy “Will Always Have Questions”

    Khabib Nurmagomedov: Jon Jones’ Legacy “Will Always Have Questions”

    UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has questioned what kind of legacy Jon Jones will leave behind in the world of mixed martial arts.

    Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of the most respected MMA fighters of all time. He accomplished some truly incredible things throughout the course of his career, including going 29-0, becoming UFC lightweight champion, and generally being viewed as one of the most dominant fighters to ever walk through the doors of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

    Khabib Nurmagomedov has been retired for five years now and a lot of people still put him in the conversation of greatest of all time. Of course, someone else who features pretty prominently in that is none other than Jon Jones.

    In a recent podcast appearance, Khabib Nurmagomedov gave his thoughts on the legacy of Jon Jones now that he’s walked away from the sport.

    Khabib Nurmagomedov questions Jon Jones’ legacy

    “Legacy and achievement are two different things, a lot of people confuse those two concepts.”

    “What is legacy? Legacy is when kids look at you and feel inspired by you.”

    “As a fighter, he’s the best. As a person, in terms of inspiration, character, when it comes to personal qualities, there will always be questions.”

    “As an athlete, he reached greatness. He has no equal but there will always be questions about doping, whether he was caught or not, and yes, he was caught. That’s a fact.”

    Who knows, maybe ‘Bones’ will decided to try and climb the mountain once again. We’ll have to wait and see.

  • Jack Della Maddalena is tougher fight for Islam Makhachev than Ilia Topuria, says Khabib

    UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has emphasized that he believes Jack Della Maddalena is a tougher fight for Islam Makhachev than Ilia Topuria.

    As we know, Islam Makhachev is moving up to the welterweight division in order to try and win a world title in a second weight class. While many believe he can achieve that goal, others are of the opinion that Jack Della Maddalena is simply too big and imposing for Islam to defeat – with Jack himself also falling into that category.

    Someone who also knows just how good Jack Della Maddalena is, seemingly, is Khabib Nurmagomedov. In a recent podcast appearance, Khabib made it clear that this isn’t going to be a walk in the park for Makhachev as he attempts to make history.

    Khabib Nurmagomedov praises Jack Della Maddalena

    “I think Maddalena is the toughest opponent in Islam’s career,” Nurmagomedov told Hustle Show. “That’s my opinion. Not Charles (Oliveira), no one else. None of those other fighters. Not even Ilia, if that fight were to happen. That’s just my personal opinion.

    “First of all, Maddalena is twice the size of Ilia. Taller, bigger, stronger legs, bigger frame. His boxing is just as good. And, in grappling, he scrambles really well if you’ve watched him. For me, if I was preparing Islam for either Ilia or Maddalena, I’d be more concerned about Maddalena.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

    Regardless of whether or not you agree, there’s no denying that this going to be absolutely fascinating to watch unfold.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Coach Says Conor McGregor “Hasn’t Been the Same” Since 2018 Loss “He Crossed the Line, And Never Recovered”

    Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Coach Says Conor McGregor “Hasn’t Been the Same” Since 2018 Loss “He Crossed the Line, And Never Recovered”

    When it comes to legendary MMA rivalries, few can match the heat between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor. The two men, both icons in their own right, clashed at UFC 229 in October 2018, a night that delivered fireworks inside and outside the cage.

    Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Coach Talks Conor McGregor

    Khabib Nurmagomedov, a Russian-Dagestani fighter who retired undefeated at 29-0 and held the UFC Lightweight Championship, was known for his grappling and calm demeanor. McGregor, the Irish-born superstar, made history as the first UFC fighter to hold two belts simultaneously and drew crowds with his sharp tongue and knockout power.

    The build-up to their fight was anything but polite. Conor McGregor, never shy with words, took his trash talk to new levels, targeting not just Khabib Nurmagomedov but also his family, religion, and country. This didn’t sit well with Khabib’s coach, Javier Mendez, who recently didn’t mince words about McGregor’s approach.

    Khabib Nurmagomedov with his coach Javier Mendez
    Image: @akajav/Instagram

    “You want to talk about a fighter, go ahead, free game. But you talked about religion, you talked about family, you talked about country. I don’t respect fighters who do that,” Mendez said, in an interview with Mike Perry, making it clear that some lines shouldn’t be crossed.

    Khabib won the match, eventually forcing McGregor to tap out in the fourth round with a face crank, a move that left no doubt about who was the better man that night. The aftermath was chaotic, with Khabib leaping over the cage to confront McGregor’s team, sparking a brawl that made as many headlines as the fight itself.

    Khabib Nurmagomedov
    Image: UFC.com

    According to Mendez, that night changed McGregor. “He hasn’t been the same after that loss with Khabib. He went down,” Mendez said, echoing what many in the MMA world have observed. Before facing Khabib, McGregor was on top of the world, having knocked out legends and collected belts. After the loss, his career has been rocky: a quick win over Donald Cerrone, but then back-to-back losses and a serious leg injury against Dustin Poirier that’s kept him out of the cage for years.

    Meanwhile, Khabib Nurmagomedov retired undefeated and has since become a coach and promoter. So, while McGregor remains a massive draw and still talks a big game, his old spark has dimmed since that night in Las Vegas. As for Mendez and Team Khabib, they’re not exactly sending McGregor any holiday cards.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Praises ‘Underrated Aspect’ Of Belal Muhammad’s Game

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Praises ‘Underrated Aspect’ Of Belal Muhammad’s Game

    UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has pinpointed one area of Belal Muhammad’s arsenal that he believes puts the reigning welterweight champion above his peers.

    Muhammad has consistently proved his detractors wrong in recent years, mounting an impressive 11-fight unbeaten run en route to the championship at 170 pounds.

    Among the helping hands along the way in “Remember the Name’s” corner was Khabib, who has regularly welcomed the Palestinian-American into his team.

    During a recent interview with Adam Zubayraev, Khabib laid heavy praise on Muhammad while questioning who has what it takes to unseat him from the welterweight throne.

    “I believe it will be very hard to beat Belal,” Khabib said. “If (Della) Maddalena or Shavkat don’t finish him early, Belal is just going to keep pressing. … His endurance is really good. In fact, I think it’s the most underrated aspect in MMA today. Belal’s cardio is the best in this division for sure, and maybe even in all of UFC.”

    Jack Della Maddalena will have the first chance to make Muhammad’s reign a short-lived one. Due to an injury to Shavkat Rakhmonov, the Australian has been brought in to challenge the champ at UFC 315 in Montreal next month.

  • Usman Nurmagomedov: Conor McGregor’s Kids Have To Live With The Fact Khabib ‘Kicked His Ass’

    Usman Nurmagomedov: Conor McGregor’s Kids Have To Live With The Fact Khabib ‘Kicked His Ass’

    Usman Nurmagomedov isn’t fazed by UFC star Conor McGregor’s continued focus on his cousin and family as a whole.

    McGregor has bashed Khabib Nurmagomedov and the region of Dagestan online and in interviews ever since his heated feud with “The Eagle” reached the cage in 2018.

    While the Irishman was viciously submitted by the then-UFC lightweight champion, that hasn’t stopped him from repeatedly continuing the kind of controversial trash talk he dished out in the lead-up to UFC 229.

    Most recently, McGregor’s disdain for the Nurmagomedovs was on full display when he lambasted Paul Hughes for his positive interactions with Khabib and co. after taking Usman to the limit in their title fight at PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai.

    During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Usman reflected on McGregor’s reaction to the niceties, explaining what he perceives to be the reason for the Dubliner’s ongoing hatred for all things Nurmagomedov.

    “Maybe because Khabib kicked his ass,” Nurmagomedov said. “He wants a rematch but he has to live with this all his life and his kids have to live with this all his life. When his kids will grow up, when his kids are 18 (years old), people will say, ‘Hey, your father tried to do some crazy stuff but some guy from Dagestan came to America and kicked your father’s ass.’ That’s it. That’s why he cannot sleep even.

    “He has to live with this and pass with this. All his family, all his legacy, all this, is around this. He lost to Khabib when (he) had to win. But it (did not) happen. Khabib smashed his face, his team and all for what he was working (for),” Nurmagomedov continued. “When Khabib beat him, he (did not) come back to fighting, even for life I think. He’s going to drink. He’s going to beat some women. He’s stupid.”

    McGregor hasn’t been active as a fighter in recent years. He’s remained in the headlines by way of controversy after controversy, with the most notable coming late last year when he was found liable for the assault of a woman who accused him of rape in Ireland.

  • Chael Sonnen Warns UFC: Move Islam Makhachev To 170 Or Watch Him ‘Retire Like Khabib Did’

    Chael Sonnen Warns UFC: Move Islam Makhachev To 170 Or Watch Him ‘Retire Like Khabib Did’

    Former fighter-turned-analyst Chael Sonnen thinks the UFC has a big decision to make regarding lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev’s future.

    Makhachev started his year on the right foot last month, becoming the first champion at 155 pounds to record four consecutive defenses. The Dagestani did so at the expense of late-notice replacement opponent Renato Moicano, whom he submitted in the first round at UFC 311.

    Moving forward, the 33-year-old has expressed his desire to achieve two-division glory. And it would appear that the timeframe on that coming to fruition could be short, with Makhachev’s coach suggesting late last year that the Russian could look to depart the sport on top soon enough.

    In the eyes of Sonnen, such an event would only be brought about if the UFC forces the champ to remain at 155 pounds — a factor he also saw as the leading cause of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement as titleholder back in 2020.

    “Khabib did not retire because he didn’t want to fight Conor (McGregor) a second time. The UFC showed him the wrong numbers,” Sonnen said in an interview with MMA Junkie. “Every time they had a meeting, they showed more commas and more zeros, but it was the wrong number. If they had made the weight class 170 (pounds), they would have caught Khabib for one more fight.

    “The number one reason any combat athlete retires is that they don’t want to make that weight anymore. Sooner or later, it bites everybody in the ass,” Sonnen continued. “Islam can either retire like Khabib did. Khabib didn’t want to tell anybody he didn’t want to make the weight, and no combat athlete will ever admit that. … So, they can either eventually part ways with Islam and watch him retire and talk about what could have been, or they can move him out of the goddamn weight class. That’s the truth.”

    One potential stumbling block in the way of a welterweight move for Makhachev is the presence of friend and occasional training partner Belal Muhammad on the throne. Because of that, the Dagestani has even pondered a two-division move up to middleweight to challenge Dricus Du Plessis.

    It remains to be seen what lies in the future of Makhachev, but in Sonnen’s eyes, a continued stay at lightweight will soon signal the end of the champ’s career.

  • VIDEO: UFC’s Conor McGregor Spits In Face Of Fan Who Remarked ‘Let’s Go Khabib’

    VIDEO: UFC’s Conor McGregor Spits In Face Of Fan Who Remarked ‘Let’s Go Khabib’

    It seems that not a day goes past without a new controversy surrounding former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor.

    Following years of questionable antics and run-ins with the law, the Irishman was back in the headlines for all the wrong reasons last year after he was found liable for assault in a civil court case stemming from a rape accusation.

    More recently, McGregor’s latest tirade against longtime rival and ex-opponent Khabib Nurmagomedov drew backlash due to his use of racial slurs. The social media post marked one of many verbal attacks on the Dagestani, who submitted him to retain the lightweight title at UFC 229 in 2018.

    While it’s long been clear that McGregor isn’t over his feud with Khabib and his team, if anyone doubted that, footage showing what happens at the mere mention of “The Eagle’s” name in his presence should prove as much.

    A video emerged this week showing an individual shouting, “Let’s go Khabib,” at McGregor, who was attending some sort of function. The Dubliner can be seen turning around and approaching the man, before shockingly spitting in his face.

    “I spit in your face, what’d you do? Nothing,” the UFC star says to the individual in the clip, which was originally posted to TikTok by @jgomez9.

    Neither McGregor nor his representatives have commented on the footage as of writing.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Sends Supportive Message To Paul Hughes After Conor McGregor’s Attack: ‘You Are A Real Irishman!’

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Sends Supportive Message To Paul Hughes After Conor McGregor’s Attack: ‘You Are A Real Irishman!’

    Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has unsurprisingly taken aim at longtime rival Conor McGregor and backed Paul Hughes in the Irishman’s sudden back and forth with “The Notorious.”

    The relationship between Hughes and McGregor has taken a firm downward turn this week after footage emerged of “Big News” discussing Ireland’s most prominent fighter while in conversation with Khabib.

    Hughes spoke to “The Eagle” inside the cage at the PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai event last weekend, where the former Cage Warriors standout pushed Khabib’s cousin, Usman Nurmagomedov, all the way in their Bellator lightweight title fight.

    While much of the lead-up had been heated with a “Dagestan vs. Ireland” narrative, Usman showed respect to Hughes after taking the decision win. And the defeated challenger was keen to express to the opposition team that he’s far from the same as another Irish fighter whose controversial nature Khabib got to know very well a few years ago.

    Footage of Hughes making that point to the former UFC champ quickly went viral and found its way to McGregor, who has since been slamming “Big News” in a series of tweets, one of which saw him question Hughes’ Irish heritage.

    Though Hughes has been garnering support with his own firm responses to McGregor, he also received some backing from “The Eagle,” who branded his rival a “rapist and drug addict” in a post on his Instagram Stories.

    “You are a real Irishman @paulhughesmma and not a rapist and drug addict like this bastard,” Nurmagomedov wrote.

    McGregor was recently embroiled in a civil court case after being accused of rape by Nikita Hand. He was found civilly liable for the assault late last year and forced to pay the victim almost €250,000.

    The Irishman’s troubles appear far from ending, too, after he was sued by a woman who claims he sexually assaulted her during the Heat vs. Celtics NBA game in June 2023.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Has ‘Got To Improve’ As A Coach After Umar’s UFC 311 Loss, Says Ex-Title Challenger

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Has ‘Got To Improve’ As A Coach After Umar’s UFC 311 Loss, Says Ex-Title Challenger

    UFC welterweight contender Gilbert Burns doesn’t think Khabib Nurmagomedov handled things perfectly in the corner of his cousin, Umar, earlier this month.

    The previously undefeated bantamweight challenged for Merab Dvalishvili’s title in the co-main event of UFC 311, staged inside the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

    After a strong start, Nurmagomedov was unable to continue his momentum into the latter rounds, with the Georgian champion’s renowned pace and cardio once again proving to be the difference and setting up a decision victory.

    During an episode of his and Renato Moicano’s Show Me The Money podcast, Burns gave his assessment of the contest and outlined where the challenger’s team might have gone wrong.

    Though he noted his immense respect for Khabib, “Durinho” saw some holes in the coaching game of the former UFC lightweight champion.

    “I have so much respect for the Dagestani guys and Khabib, but I just gotta say this — Khabib Nurmagomedov as a main coach, people gonna hate on this, still got to improve a lot,” Burns said. “When Umar started getting tired, he came to the corner with those question eyes, like, he didn’t know what to do. And when I looked at Khabib and his corner, they had the same eyes — like, ‘Oh my God.’

    “Guys like ‘Parrumpa’ and Henry (Hooft), they calm you down and tell you exactly what to do — ‘You lost that round, now do this and this.’ They’ve been in so many corners, you can’t even count,” Burns continued. “I have a lot of respect for him (Khabib), but coaching takes time and repetition.”

    Khabib seemingly won’t be sticking around as long as the trainers named by Burns, however, having outlined his plans to hang up his coaching gloves when his current crop of fighters depart the sport.

    For now, though, the Dagestani remains focused on developing his team. He was most recently in Dubai for a successful PFL main event for another of his cousins, Bellator Lightweight Champion Usman Nurmagomedov.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Invites Ireland’s Paul Hughes To Dagestan After PFL Battle With Cousin Usman

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Invites Ireland’s Paul Hughes To Dagestan After PFL Battle With Cousin Usman

    After a respectful exchange inside the cage at Saturday’s PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai event, that trend has continued between the Nurmagomedov family and Paul Hughes on social media.

    For a second time this month, a Nurmagomedov was involved in an early Fight of the Year contender. But while Umar came on the losing side of his at UFC 311 in Los Angeles, the bantamweight’s brother Usman had his hand raised in Dubai this past Saturday.

    The Bellator lightweight champion kept the gold in his possession with a hard-fought decision victory over Paul Hughes at the PFL’s first event of the year.

    Following a heated lead-up fueled by promotional material that dubbed the clash Dagestan vs. Ireland 2 — a reference to Khabib and Conor McGregor’s heated rivalry — the pair buried any hatchet that existed post-fight.

    On Usman’s part, he admitted to underestimating “Big News,” whom some believe did enough to deserve the championship. Khabib, meanwhile, has also been giving Hughes praise.

    In fact, the former UFC champion was so impressed — and keen to show that his animosity lies solely at McGregor’s feet rather than Ireland as a whole — that he’s even offered to host Hughes in his native Dagestan.

    “Thank you for the fight @paulhughesmma and for the experience,” Khabib Nurmagomedov wrote. “I invite you and your whole team and family to Dagestan, any time you want, believe me you will like it and your arrival will serve as a good example for many young generations”

    The ex-Cage Warriors standout was quick to respond, outlining his respect for the lightweight legend.

    But when it comes to taking “The Eagle” up on his offer, Hughes had one condition that must be fulfilled first: a rematch.

    “Thankyou @TeamKhabib I have great respect for you, your team and your nation,” Hughes wrote. “I would be honoured to take you up on this offer someday and then return the favour in Ireland. But please, only after I get to rematch Usman.”

    It remains to be seen what the PFL will have in store for Usman Nurmagomedov and Hughes moving forward.

    While many have echoed the Irishman’s calls for an immediate second dance, the champ suggested backstage at the Coca-Cola Arena that “Big News” requires three or four wins to earn another shot.