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Tag: Khabib Nurmagomedov

  • Khabib Posts Supportive Message To Umar Nurmagomedov After UFC 311 Defeat

    Khabib Posts Supportive Message To Umar Nurmagomedov After UFC 311 Defeat

    Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has encouraged cousin Umar Nurmagomedov to keep his head held high following a first career setback in Los Angeles this past Saturday night.

    The 29-year-old made the walk inside Inglewood’s Intuit Dome for his opening title opportunity on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage, looking to become the latest undefeated Nurmagomedov to hold gold in a leading promotion.

    Unfortunately for the Dagestani, he failed in that quest at UFC 311. Instead, Merab Dvalishvili successfully maintained his position on the bantamweight throne, emerging victorious from a memorable five-round battle to record his first defense.

    Having suffered his first defeat as a professional and exited California without the belt in his possession, Nurmagomedov will understandably be disappointed.

    His coach, mentor, and cousin, however, is confident of making the necessary fixes to ensure a successful title challenge down the line.

    “Head up Junior, yesterday you showed that you are one of the best in the world,” Khabib wrote in an Instagram post. “At the moment we have something to work on, we will work on the mistakes and return to the title race”

    “The Eagle” had a busy night in LA, cornering two other fighters at UFC 311.

    Tagir Ulanbekov opened the night in strong fashion for the team, taking Clayton Carpenter’s 0 by way of a convincing decision. And another member of the Dagestani contingent closed out proceedings, with Islam Makhachev retaining his lightweight title via submission at the expense of Renato Moicano.

    Alongside his supportive words toward Umar, Khabib also praised the work of both Makhachev and Ulanbekov.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Explains Why Coaching Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier Was Harder Than Fighting Him

    Khabib Nurmagomedov and current UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev share a notable common opponent in Dustin Poirier. Both fighters secured submission victories over “The Diamond” during their respective UFC careers.

    Khabib defeated Poirier at UFC 242 in September 2019, winning via submission in a dominant performance. Makhachevā€™s most recent title defense also came against Poirier, ending with a fifth-round submission. Reflecting on these encounters, “The Eagle” admitted that fighting Poirier himself was much easier than cornering Makhachev against him.

    ā€œInside the cage was much better,ā€ Nurmagomedov told ESPN in a recent interview. ā€œWhen I was inside, I didnā€™t have to talk. Only a couple of times I spoke with him. I remember during my fight with Dustin, after the first round, I asked him how he felt, and he said, ā€˜Nothing, you win the first round.ā€™ā€

    Nurmagomedov explained that coaching from the outside presented an entirely different challenge.

    ā€œWhen I was outside with Islam, for almost 25 minutes I was just talking. I couldnā€™t do anything. To be honest, I donā€™t like this. But it was an amazing fightā€”an amazing finish in the fifth round and a very good experience for Islam.ā€

    Coach Javier Mendez also weighed in, calling Poirier the toughest opponent Makhachev has faced to date.

  • Dana White Reacts To Viral Video Of Khabib Nurmagomedov Being Kicked Off Frontier Flight: ‘That’s How Humble He Is…’

    Dana White Reacts To Viral Video Of Khabib Nurmagomedov Being Kicked Off Frontier Flight: ‘That’s How Humble He Is…’

    Dana White recently tore into Frontier Airlines after their staff removed Khabib Nurmagomedov from one of their flights.

    This past Sunday, the UFC Hall of Famer found himself embroiled in a tense dispute with a flight attendant aboard a flight from Las Vegas to San Francisco. The footage captured Nurmagomedov being asked to change seats, allegedly due to concerns over his English communication skills in a potential emergency ā€” an aspect tied to a strict Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulation for passengers seated in the exit row aisle.

    Even after the request, Nurmagomedov remained steadfast, seemingly adamant in his refusal to cooperate. This prompted the flight attendant to suggest involving a supervisor, who could have him escorted off the plane. Ultimately, “The Eagle” made the decision to leave the aircraft of his own accord.

    During a recent appearance on Pardon My Take, White reacted to Nurmagomedov’s removal from a Frontier Airlines flight. The UFC CEO didnā€™t hold back, ripping into the airline and humorously remarking that the undefeated Dagestani should have known better than to choose such a service for someone of his stature.

    “What the f**k is he doing on Frontier Airlines?” White said. “This kid’s got more money than anybody, and that’s how humble he is ā€” he’s flying on that piece of sh*t airline. What do you expect? … I don’t know what you have to do to get kicked off Frontier Airlines, but yeah, listen, Khabib doesn’t fight anymore because he’s got sh*tloads of money. Yeah, I gotta teach Khabib how to charter a plane.”

    White continued his tirade, taking aim at the airline and asserting that, in his view, there was no one more suited than “The Eagle” to handle any potential emergency.

    “That’s how dumb they are on Frontier Airlines. If there’s anybody you want in that position, it’s Khabib Nurmagomedov. Good job, Frontier Airlines.”

    Following the polarizing incident, the former UFC lightweight champion took to social media to share his perspective. He asserted that, while he believed he had approached the conversation with courtesy, the flight attendant’s behavior was “very rude.” Additionally, he voiced concerns about whether the altercation had been spurred by “racial” bias.

    In response, Frontier Airlines released a statement unequivocally denying any allegations that Nurmagomedov was singled out due to his ethnicity. The airline instead argued that the retired mixed martial artist had initially failed to respond when asked if he could assist other passengers seated in the exit row.

  • UFC Veteran Explains Why KO Loss Doesn’t Count Against Islam Makhachev In Lightweight GOAT Debate

    UFC Veteran Explains Why KO Loss Doesn’t Count Against Islam Makhachev In Lightweight GOAT Debate

    When it comes to UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev surpassing the greatness of his coach and friend Khabib Nurmagomedov, one former fighter doesn’t think his failure to remain unbeaten comes into play.

    Makhachev, who in 2022 completed his team’s plans for him to become a successor to Khabib’s reign, is nearing his attempt to make history as the 155-pound kingpin.

    After equaling a number of records with his victory over Dustin Poirier last June, the Dagestani could surpass both “The Eagle” and BJ Penn for most lightweight title fight wins and successful defenses when he collides with Arman Tsarukyan in the UFC 311 main event this weekend.

    Should Makhachev achieve that feat, debates over his standing in the GOAT conversation at 155 pounds will only intensify. The one aspect some might say works in favor of Khabib? The one defeat on the current champ’s record.

    But during an episode of MMA Fighting’s The Fighter vs. The Writer, former UFC welterweight Matt Brown dismissed any suggestion that Makhachev’s knockout loss to Adriano Martins a decade ago affects his claim to top spot.

    “I think Islam ā€” if he beats Arman ā€” heā€™s still in that phase where thereā€™s some debate,” Brown said. “For me, personally, the losses donā€™t take away from that. You canā€™t say (Makhachev) had a loss and (Khabib) didnā€™t. You lose when you fight above your level. If Khabib would have foughtĀ BJ PennĀ for his debut pro fight, BJ probably would have beat him.

    “If youā€™re fighting guys at your level or below, you win, and if you fight guys above your level, you lose,” Brown continued. “When you get to the top, now youā€™re fighting for the title, youā€™re the best in the world, now it comes to title defenses for the greatest of all-time. We certainly have to put Islam in that conversation. If anything, the loss shows me you can work through some adversity.”

    Makhachev will look to ensure he avoids doubling his record’s loss count Saturday night at Inglewood’s Intuit Dome.

    To do so, he must repeat his past victory over a much improved and developed Tsarukyan, who is out for redemption and a title crowning of his own.

  • ‘Tired’ Khabib Nurmagomedov Hopes He Can Retire From Coaching Soon Ahead Of UFC 311 Assignments

    ‘Tired’ Khabib Nurmagomedov Hopes He Can Retire From Coaching Soon Ahead Of UFC 311 Assignments

    Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov returned to cornering fighters last year following a brief break, but it seems he’s already wanting to give up coaching in its entirety.

    Khabib is set for a busy week in Los Angeles, where two of his team’s most prominent fighters will take up headline spots for the UFC 311 pay-per-view on Jan. 18.

    Before 155-pound kingpin Islam Makhachev defends his crown in the main event, “The Eagle’s” cousin, Umar Nurmagomedov, will challenge for Merab Dvalishvili’s bantamweight throne in the co-headliner.

    The retired legend will be cageside calling the shots for both ā€” a position he took up following his retirement from active competition in 2020. But it doesn’t seem like he plans on staying there longer than necessary.

    During a recent interview uploaded to ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Khabib discussed how long he plans to be in the coaching game for, revealing that he doesn’t intend on occupying the role beyond the careers of his current crop of fighters.

    “When the guys finish, Iā€™m going to finish,” Khabib said. “I hope itā€™s going to be very fast, Iā€™m tired of all this. Weā€™ve been on top of this game for like, seven, eight years, since I became a champion. All these guys were with me, they were with my father when I was starting.

    “There are still six, eight (fighters competing) at a very high level. When they finish, I will finish too,” Khabib added.

    The immediate lead-up to UFC 311 didn’t get off to the smoothest of starts for Khabib, who was the subject of a viral video that showed him being removed from a plane ahead of a flight from Los Vegas to California this past weekend.

    While “The Eagle” eventually boarded a different flight and made his way to the state, the fallout from the incident has continued this week, with Frontier Airlines most recently releasing a statement in defense of the flight attendant who had the exchange with the former UFC fighter.

  • Frontier Airlines Releases Statement Defending Flight Attendant Who Kicked Khabib Nurmagomedov Off Plane

    Frontier Airlines Releases Statement Defending Flight Attendant Who Kicked Khabib Nurmagomedov Off Plane

    Frontier Airlines is standing by its flight attendant who removed Khabib Nurmagomedov from a plane.

    On Sunday, a now-viral clip captured “The Eagle” in a tense exchange with a flight attendant aboard a Las Vegas to San Francisco flight. The footage showed Nurmagomedov being asked to switch seats, allegedly due to concerns about his ability to communicate in English during a potential emergency.

    Despite the request, he resolutely refused to comply, prompting the flight attendant to suggest that a supervisor could intervene and have him escorted off the plane. Ultimately, the UFC Hall of Famer chose to deboard the aircraft voluntarily.

    Initially, reports suggested the flight was with Alaska Airlines, but Nurmagomedov took to social media to clarify that it was operated by Frontier Airlines. The undefeated Dagestani expressed that, while he believed he handled the conversation with respect, the flight attendant was “very rude.”

    He also raised concerns about whether the incident was influenced by “racial” prejudice.

    Frontier Airlines has now issued a statement to MMA Fighting, addressing the incident involving Nurmagomedov and the exit row situation.

    The airline categorically rejected claims that the former UFC lightweight champion was targeted because of his ethnicity. Instead, they cited concerns over his alleged English proficiency, which aligns with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations requiring passengers in exit rows to be fluent in English on U.S. departures.

    Below is the full statement:

    “On Jan. 11, 2025, as flight 4401 from Las Vegas to San Francisco was preparing for departure, a flight attendant initiated the customary briefing for exit row passengers. Customer Khabib Nurmagomedov, who was seated in an exit row, was asked multiple times if he was willing and able to assist in the event of an emergency. According to the flight attendant, Mr. Nurmagomedov did not respond, despite repeated attempts, which placed him in non-compliance with FAA requirements. The flight attendant informed Mr. Nurmagomedov that he could be moved to a different upgraded seat or exit the plane.

    ā€œVideos circulating on social media platforms do not capture this interaction, and instead show a subsequent interaction after a gate agent entered the plane and reiterated the option to be reseated. As a result of the customerā€™s initial unresponsiveness and repeated declinations of a seat change, he was asked to deplane per airline and FAA policy. The decision to deplane the customer was in no way related to his ethnicity and we have refunded him and his traveling companions for their flights.ā€

    “The Eagle” will corner his teammates, Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov, in their respective title bouts at UFC 311 this weekend at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

    Makhachev will defend his Lightweight crown against Arman Tsarukyan in the main event, while Umar will challenge Merab Dvalishvili for the Bantamweight championship in the co-main event.

  • UFC 311 Headliner Islam Makhachev Reveals Longtime Khabib Rival As His Dream Fight

    UFC 311 Headliner Islam Makhachev Reveals Longtime Khabib Rival As His Dream Fight

    Islam Makhachev is set to defend his lightweight title at UFC 311 in a fight that fans have wanted to see for a long time. Considering their first encounter back in 2019, many have believed for a while now that a rematch with Arman Tsarukyan will be the toughest test for the pound-for-pound number one.

    Beating Tsarukyan will see Makhachev break the record for consecutive lightweight title defenses at four, passing the streak of his training partner and coach, Khabib Nurmagomedov. A win for the defending champion on Saturday night in Los Angeles also means that as of right now, there isn’t a clear next step for him.

    Makhachev recently spent some time with streamer Adin Ross where he was asked if there is a dream fight that is out there for him. Whilst there isn’t anything that comes to mind right now, the 155-pound titleholder did look back on a contest that he wanted to pursue several years ago.

    At 29-0, Nurmagomedov was totally dominant but if there’s one opponent that got away, it is Tony Ferguson. The matchup might be the best example of the fight that the fans wanted the most that never happened despite the fact that it was booked multiple times.

    Makhachev said that at the time when his close friend was at the top of the lightweight division, he also wanted to face off with “El Cucuy” in order to bring that win back for his team.

    “Not like many years ago but my brother, Khabib, was supposed to fight with Tony Ferguson like five times, they both have injuries or fight is cancelled five times and my dream to fight this guy in that moment because I always with Khabib. When Khabib have injury, I ask my manager, I say ‘Hey, can I step in to fight with Tony,’ and you know, Tony in that moment is like very good athlete, very good fighter. He have like almost more than 10-fight win streak in the UFC and this is one of the fights which I want like 3-4 years ago but not right now because he has 8-fight lose streak. I wish him the best but couple years ago, he’s one of the high-level fighters from our division.”

  • Michael Chandler Backs Khabib Nurmagomedov After Viral Plane Removal: ‘If You’re Going To Kick Our GOAT Off…’

    Michael Chandler Backs Khabib Nurmagomedov After Viral Plane Removal: ‘If You’re Going To Kick Our GOAT Off…’

    UFC 311 is set to be a huge week for Khabib Nurmagomedov but before he corners back-to-back title fights on Saturday night, he has had some complications to get through on his way to Los Angeles. A video on social media showed “The Eagle” being asked to either move seats or leave the plane following a conversation with a flight atendant.

    This altercation stemmed from the fact that the former UFC lightweight champion was seating on the emergency exit row which requires the passengers to listen, understand and potentially participate in the safety procedures regarding the emergency door. Nurmagomedov did not see what the issue was but there seemed to be some caution regarding his understanding of English.

    Nurmagomedov can even be heard saying in the video that he was asked ahead of time whether he knows English and he does so it wouldn’t be an issue. A fellow mixed martial artist has stuck up for the fighter turned coach on social media by outlining where some airlines may have double standards.

    Michael Chandler made the argument that if there is an issue about Khabib sitting in the emergency row due to his English, why is that not the same for people who may not be physically or mentally dependable in that same situation. “Iron” Mike even referred to the retired athlete as the greatest of all time in his statement on the matter.

    “If youā€™re going to kick our GOAT off the plane for a little accent, please start making passengers do a physical and mental fitness aptitude test before you let them sit in the exit row after uttering a one word, one syllable, ‘yes.’ Because Iā€™ve seen some slugs in the exit row on flights. @TeamKhabib“

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Issues Statement After Being Kicked Off Flight Ahead Of UFC 311: ‘Did My Best To Stay Calm…’

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Issues Statement After Being Kicked Off Flight Ahead Of UFC 311: ‘Did My Best To Stay Calm…’

    Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has spoken publicly after footage of his removal from a flight before takeoff went viral this weekend.

    Khabib will be in Los Angeles next week as two of his team’s star fighters compete with gold on the line at the UFC 311 pay-per-view. Inside the Intuit Dome, Islam Makhachev will headline in defense of his lightweight crown, while Umar Nurmagomedov will first challenge for the bantamweight gold.

    But while attention will soon be on their showdowns with Arman Tsarukyan and Merab Dvalishvili, respectively, the biggest talking point a day out from UFC 311 fight week has surrounded their coach.

    A video emerged on Sunday showing Khabib being removed from a plane due to fly from Las Vegas to LA. Audio from the incident appeared to reveal a dispute with a flight attendant over the Dagestani’s seat on the emergency exit row.

    After the video went viral and drew out plenty of reactions from the MMA community online, Khabib took to Instagram to give his side of the story and clarify which airline he was attempting to fly with.

    “First of all, I need to clarify that it wasĀ @flyfrontierĀ not AlaskaAir. Lady who comes to me with questions was very rude from the very beginning, even though I speak very decent English and can understand everything and agreed to assist, she still insists on removing me from my seat. What was the base for that, racial, national or other one, Iā€™m not sure.

    “But after 2 minutes of conversation, she called security and I was deplaned from this aircraft, after 1,5 hour I boarded another airline one and left to my destination. I did my best to stay calm and respectful as you can see on the video. But those crew members could do better next time and just be nice with clients.”

    It remains to be seen what will come of the incident, which has spread across the Internet and resulted in some of the former UFC champion’s fans calling for a boycott of the airline in question.

    “The Eagle” himself, meanwhile, will no doubt be looking to keep his focus on the task at hand next week, as he gears up for two crucial contests for his team at the UFC 311 PPV on Jan. 18.

  • VIDEO: Khabib Nurmagomedov Gets Kicked Off Flight Ahead Of UFC 311

    VIDEO: Khabib Nurmagomedov Gets Kicked Off Flight Ahead Of UFC 311

    After being removed from a flight, Khabib Nurmagomedov will need to find alternative transportation to Los Angeles ahead of UFC 311.

    At the event, he is set to corner both lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and bantamweight challenger Umar Nurmagomedov in the title fights scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 18.

    The incident reportedly occurred during a flight from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. Khabib was asked to leave the plane following an argument with a flight attendant regarding his seating in an emergency exit row.

    Passengers seated in these rows are required to understand and comply with crew commands and may be asked to assist in operating the emergency door if necessary. According to reports, Khabib initially did not understand the flight attendant’s instructions, which prompted her to request that he either switch seats or get off the plane.Ā 

    In a video of the incident, the flight attendant explained the situation.

    ā€œOkay, so what weā€™re gonna do is either have you switch your seat, because my flight attendants are not allowing you to sit in the exit row, or youā€™re gonna have to get off this plane.ā€

    Khabib responded by questioning the decision.

    ā€œWhen I was in check-in, they asked me, ā€˜Do I know English?ā€™ And I say yes. Then why you guys do this?ā€

    The flight attendant replied by repeating the options.

    ā€œI understand that, but itā€™s also off of their judgment. Iā€™m not going to do this back and forth. Iā€™ll go call a supervisor. You can either take a different seat or we can go ahead and escort you off the plane.ā€

    Khabib’s current travel status is unclear.

  • Former UFC Fighter Outlines Factor Khabib Nurmagomedov Left Out Of Dagestan vs. Ireland Debate

    Legendary former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov looks to have caused quite the stir with his recent suggestion of Dagestani dominance in mixed martial arts.

    Khabib is currently gearing up for a busy month as a coach. In addition to having two assignments next weekend at UFC 311, where both Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov will compete with gold on the line, a trip to Dubai the following week awaits the team.

    Bellator champ Usman Nurmagomedov will kick off his year on Jan. 25, headlining the PFL’s Champions Series event at the Coca-Cola Arena. The Dagestani will be defending his title opposite Ireland’s Paul Hughes ā€” a familiar regional rivalry for MMA fans who weren’t living under a rock in 2018.

    Amid comparisons to Khabib vs. Conor McGregor, “The Eagle” has been touting his homeland’s dominance and superiority in the cage. And more than just bettering Ireland, the ex-UFC star believes a Dagestani group would handily defeat a team of fighters from around the world.

    During a recent podcast episode uploaded to his Thiccc Boy YouTube channel, former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub reacted to those remarks, explaining one aspect of the debate he believes Khabib omitted.

    “Dagestan is nothing else; all they do is focus on combat sports, nothing else,” Schaub said. “Wrestling, sambo ā€” that’s their entire focus over there. They play nothing else. So, since kids, that’s the goal.

    “Do you realize what would happen if the talent in America or Ireland ā€” but in this case, America, where I’m from ā€” decided to focus at a mass scale on MMA?” Schaub continued. “It would be the dream team versus everybody else. There would be no competition. Dagestan never had a single athlete ever that could compete in any major sport.”

    For now, Khabib will be looking to help three members of his team support his claims of Dagestani superiority this month when Makhachev meets Armenia’s Arman Tsarukyan, Umar Nurmagomedov collides with Georgia’s Merab Dvalishvili, and Usman Nurmagomedov battles Ireland’s Hughes.

  • Chael Sonnen Backs Khabib Nurmagomedov On Topic Of Dagestan’s MMA Superiority: ‘It Might Offend You, But…’

    Chael Sonnen Backs Khabib Nurmagomedov On Topic Of Dagestan’s MMA Superiority: ‘It Might Offend You, But…’

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen doesn’t believe Khabib Nurmagomedov said anything egregious when outlining his region’s dominance over the rest of the world in mixed martial arts.

    The topic of Dagestani superiority in MMA has risen to the surface ahead of Usman Nurmagomedov’s Bellator lightweight title defense later this month. The cousin of Khabib will put his gold on the line in the United Arab Emirates, headlining the PFL’s Champions Series: Road to Dubai event opposite Paul Hughes.

    With the challenger hailing from Ireland, comparisons have been made to “The Eagle’s” bad-blood clash with Conor McGregor in 2018. And when it comes to Dagestan and Ireland colliding, Khabib doesn’t think there’s any debate about which region is in front.

    In fact, while outlining that on social media, the former UFC champ went a step further and expressed confidence in a Dagestan team getting the better of a squad from around the world in amateur MMA.

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen dismissed any suggestion that Khabib’s remarks weren’t accurate.

    “The village that Khabib lives in, thereā€™s 2,000 people, there was seven Olympic champions. Seven of them have Olympic gold medals. That is crazy,” Sonnen said. “2,000, thatā€™s how many people I had in my high school. Khabibā€™s point of bragging about Dagestan, per-capita versus anywhere on Earth, you might not like it, it might offend you, but thereā€™s no way to say heā€™s wrong.”

    While Usman will be hoping to prove his relative correct come fight night on Jan. 15, when “The Eagle” will be in his corner, Hughes has vowed to upset the Dagestani contingent before throwing an ‘I told you so’ comment the way of Khabib.

  • Sean O’Malley’s Coach Claims Umar Nurmagomedov Can Afford Fighting Injured Due To His Last Name

    Sean O’Malley’s Coach Claims Umar Nurmagomedov Can Afford Fighting Injured Due To His Last Name

    The first UFC pay-per-view for 2025, UFC 311, will be headlined by Islam Makhachev as he defends his lightweight title against Arman Tsarukyan. In the co-main event, Merab Dvalishvili will also aim to defend his UFC bantamweight title against Umar Nurmagomedov.

    Two highly competitive title fights on a single card is naturally a delight for fans worldwide. However, it didn’t sit well with many when Nurmagomedov shed light on his arm injury leading up to UFC 311.

    Early rumors suggested that the arm injury would stop him from competing this month. However, the Dagestani eventually agreed to fight “The Machine.” Even though X-ray reports suggested that he broke his arm, Nurmagomedov continued training and now feels fit enough to take part in his first UFC title fight.

    Sean O’Malley is no stranger to enterting the Octagon with injuries. While discussing the topic in an interview for the Submission Radio YouTube channel, the former champ’s coach Tim Welch had an interesting take on why Nurmagomedov could be fighting with an injury at UFC 311.

    “They know they’re going to get the title shot eventually. So, I don’t think he’s going to be that hurt. I think he’s probably going to be, probably more healthy and more ready than people think. And, yeah, it’s like I said, for these title shots, it’s like, for some people, you’ll get one title shot your whole career, the rest of your life. For Umar, with his last name, I feel like even if he lost this Merab fight, he wins two more, he gets back into the title picture.”

    According to “Red Hawk,” being associated with the Nurmagomedov clan greatly benefits the UFC 311 title challenger. He stated that even if the undefeated bantamweight loses his first shot at the title, he’ll likely find himself in the same scenario with another win or two.

    Welch thinks that having some of the best and most popular MMA fighters in his camp also ensures that Nurmagomedov’s decision to fight at UFC 311 is calculated. He expects the Dagestani team to stop Dvalishvili from getting into comfortable ground positions which will eventually affect his cardio.

  • Ireland’s Paul Hughes Plans To Tell Khabib ‘I Told You So’ After Beating Dagestan’s Usman Nurmagomedov

    Ireland’s Paul Hughes Plans To Tell Khabib ‘I Told You So’ After Beating Dagestan’s Usman Nurmagomedov

    PFL star Paul Hughes is excited for Khabib Nurmagomedov to have a cageside view to his recent claim about Ireland being proved emphatically wrong later this month.

    Khabib, a former UFC lightweight champion, has put considerable time into coaching since ending his career as a 29-0 professional. And after cornering Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov in Los Angeles on Jan. 18, “The Eagle” will head to Dubai for Usman Nurmagomedov’s Bellator title defense.

    Ahead of the PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai event on Jan. 25, the Dagestani has been doing some promotional work on social media by claiming his region’s superiority over that of his cousin’s opponent, Ireland’s Hughes.

    During a recent interview with BBC Sport NI, Hughes recalled his first time seeing Khabib suggest that Ireland ‘doesn’t have fighters’, a remark that brought back memories of his crushing triumph over Conor McGregor in 2018.

    The 27-year-old expects to prove the UFC legend wrong come fight night in Dubai, and he’s got some words ready to tell “The Eagle” in the aftermath.

    “I was out with a friend, and I saw it and thought, ‘I don’t really care.’ It’s just fight stuff but it’s good for marketing, it’s good he’s doing that, but I don’t really care,” Hughes said. “I respect him as a fighter, but I don’t care what his opinion is.

    “Knowing he’ll be in Usman’s corner, I think when I win, I’ll be like, ‘I told you so,’ and that will be pleasurable but that is the competitor in me,” Hughes added.

    Hughes has also reacted plenty of times on social media, first telling Khabib that McGregor ‘made him famous’, before most recently taking a dig at Usman’s failed drug test in 2023.

  • Darren Till Reacts To Khabib Nurmagomedov Dismissing Dagestan vs. Ireland Rivalry: ‘For Him To Sit There & Say…’

    Darren Till Reacts To Khabib Nurmagomedov Dismissing Dagestan vs. Ireland Rivalry: ‘For Him To Sit There & Say…’

    Bellator Lightweight Champion Usman Nurmagomedov aims to further cement his legacy when he faces Irelandā€™s Paul Hughes on Jan. 25 in Dubai. Hughes earned his shot at the title after a victory over AJ McKee in October, setting the stage for this high-stakes clash.

    The fight has sparked comparisons to the legendary rivalry between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor, which peaked in 2018 when Khabib secured a dominant submission victory over McGregor. However, Khabib dismissed the notion of a deep rivalry between Ireland and Dagestan in MMA, making some blunt remarks about the talent disparity.

    ā€œIreland donā€™t have fighters, brother,ā€ Khabib said in a recent interview posted by PFL. ā€œLetā€™s be honest. How many fighters do you know from Ireland? Paul Hughes and Conor [McGregor], and who else? There are no fighters. You come to Dagestan, you understand. So many organizations donā€™t even sign Dagestan fighters because they worry everybody can become champion. Dagestanā€™s level of MMA is up here. But Irelandā€™s level? Not even half of Dagestanā€™s level.ā€

    This comment sparked a response from former UFC contender Darren Till, who defended Irish MMA on X.

    ā€œIā€™ve always respected Khabib and his team a lot, they are fantastic fighters,” Till wrote.” But for him to sit there and say fighters from Ireland are low level. In comparison of sizes of countries and production, Ireland is actually way ahead. Ireland is so f*cking small and Russia is so f*cking big. Ireland has produced amazing fighters over the years. I would said just over size and production of the country, Ireland wins every time, and this is not me being biased because I am neither friends with khabib’s side or Ireland’s side Iā€™m just stating my opinion.”

    The contrasting views have ignited debate among fans, further heightening interest in the Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes matchup.

    While Khabib Nurmagomedovā€™s remarks highlight Dagestanā€™s dominance in MMA, Tillā€™s defense of Ireland emphasizes the remarkable achievements of Irish fighters given their countryā€™s size.

  • Paul Hughes Gives 4-Word Reaction To Khabib Nurmagomedov Claiming ‘Ireland Don’t Have Fighters’

    Paul Hughes Gives 4-Word Reaction To Khabib Nurmagomedov Claiming ‘Ireland Don’t Have Fighters’

    In a recent social media video posted by the PFL, Khabib Nurmagomedov criticized the credibility of Irish fighters. The former UFC lightweight champion has his own well-documented history with one fighter in particular from this region which led to the biggest fight in the history of the sport seven years ago.

    For team Khabib, they’ve got an extremely busy start to 2025 as after UFC 311 takes place, where Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov will feature at the top of the card, it’s Usman Nurmagomedov’s turn at the PFL’s Road to Dubai event on January 25. At the Coca-Cola Arena, the undefeated Bellator lightweight champion will defend his title against Ireland’s Paul Hughes in a highly anticipated showdown.

    Following Hughes’ prompt, the promotion has marketed the main event as the next instalment in the MMA rivalry between Ireland and Dagestan but Khabib doesn’t think that this is any kind of competition. Despite the amount of success that Ireland has had in combat sports despite its population, “The Eagle” is yet to be impressed by what the emerald isle has to offer, especially in regards to comparisons with Dagestan.

    ā€œIreland donā€™t have fighters, brother,ā€ Nurmagomedov said in anĀ interview with PFL. ā€œLetā€™s be honest: How many fighters from Ireland? Paul Hughes and Conor. Who else? There is no fighters, brother. You come to Dagestan, you can understand. So many organizations, they donā€™t even want to sign Dagestan fighters because they worry about like, everybody can become champion.

    ā€œLetā€™s be honest: Dagestan level of MMA here (up high),ā€ Nurmagomedov said. ā€œBut Ireland level, like not even half of Dagestan level.ā€

    Hughes’ response was simple and to the point. With coach Khabib seemingly having a front row seat for January 25 from the corner of the defending champion, “Big News” is excited to prove him wrong.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Manager Names ‘The Only Guy’ Who Can Surpass His 29-0 Record

    Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Manager Names ‘The Only Guy’ Who Can Surpass His 29-0 Record

    According to the manager of Khabib Nurmagomedov, there is just one fighter capable of surpassing the former UFC lightweight champion’s unblemished record in mixed martial arts.

    Khabib is widely regarded as one of the all-time best in MMA, having never tasted defeat throughout his career. The Dagestani secured the throne with a victory over Al iaquinta before recording successful defenses over Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje.

    “The Eagle” ultimately decided to hang up his gloves owing to the passing of his father. But while many believe he exited the sport prematurely, there’s still doubt over whether anyone will even come close to his unbeaten run.

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, however, his manager Ali Abdelaziz pinpointed another Nurmagomedov who could accomplish such a feat.

    “Thereā€™s no doubt in my mind Umar (Nurmagomedov) will be a champion at 135 pounds, and I believe Umar is going to be a champion for a long time,” Abdelaziz said. “I think Umar is the only guy who can really challenge Khabibā€™s record. He can retire undefeated, 29-0, 30-0. Of course he has a tough opponent, but I believe Umar is better everywhere.

    “Umar is one of the best fighters Iā€™ve ever seen,” Abdelaziz continued. “He is so good everywhere, and heā€™s so humble and so nice. He was offered Merab in Madison Square Garden and he said yes. He was offered Merab in December and he said yes. … Obviously Merab did not want this fight, he didnā€™t think Umar deserves it. … Sometimes you have to defend your turf. His turf is his title. He was pushed into this fight, he did not want this fight, he didnā€™t think Umar deserves this fight.”

    Nurmagomedov will need to win another 11 straight fights to match Khabib’s record and 12 to surpass it, having gone 18-0 as a professional to date.

    And his ‘0’ will meet its toughest test to date later this month when he competes for Merab Dvalishvili’s bantamweight title in the co-main event of UFC 311, the promotion’s first pay-per-view of the new year.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Sees Only 1 Big Fight For Alexandre Pantoja: ‘If I’m A Promoter Like Dana…’

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Sees Only 1 Big Fight For Alexandre Pantoja: ‘If I’m A Promoter Like Dana…’

    In Khabib Nurmagomedovā€™s view, thereā€™s only one compelling matchup left for UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja: a fight against former dual-champion Henry Cejudo.

    Pantoja has solidified his dominance in the 125-pound division with three successful title defenses against Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg, and most recently Kai Asakura at UFC 310. With victories over most of the UFCā€™s top 15 flyweights, Pantoja now faces a lack of fresh challenges in the division.

    ā€œThere is no other option for Pantoja. There is no fight,ā€ Khabib said during an interview on the Pound 4 Pound podcast. ā€œI think if they want some big fight for this weight class, they have to make this: Cejudo vs. Pantoja.ā€

    Cejudo, who vacated the flyweight and bantamweight titles and retired in May 2020, has teased a return to the 125-pound division after back-to-back losses at bantamweight to Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili. Khabib directly asked “Triple C” if he could make the 125-pound weight limit again.

    ā€œYeah, I can make it. Itā€™s just a lot of discipline,” Cejudo responded. “Iā€™ve got to maybe fast for like a week, lose a good 10 pounds, and then from there just be on a strict diet. Only water. I think Iā€™d lose about 15 pounds.ā€

    “The Eagle” expressed confidence in the potential of the matchup, emphasizing its importance for the division and Pantojaā€™s legacy.

    ā€œWe have to recognize real things. If Iā€™m a promoter like Dana [White], I try to make Pantoja fight with you because there is nobody else. Cejudo vs. Pantoja is going to be a big name. Bring somebody old with a big name, make them fight.ā€

    Cejudo agreed, noting that even a loss to him could elevate Pantojaā€™s profile.

    ā€œEven if he was to beat me, it elevates him because he beat a legend.ā€

    Khabib laid out a roadmap for Cejudo to return and reclaim the flyweight title, stressing the discipline required to achieve greatness.

    ā€œYou fight February, March, take off, and jump [into] April training camp. Fight June or July, International Fight Week at 125 [pounds] for the title. Can you imagine you come back and win 125 [title]? You can. Iā€™m going to talk with Dana, too.ā€

    If the UFC can make this fight happen, it would bring significant intrigue to the flyweight division, pairing a reigning champion in his prime against a returning legend looking to reclaim his former glory.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Admits He Doesnā€™t Like His New MMA Role

    Khabib Nurmagomedov has transitioned into coaching in MMA since retiring from active competition. However, the former champion has admitted that the new role isnā€™t exactly his favorite.

    Nurmagomedov holds a legendary record in MMA, having been the longest-reigning UFC lightweight champion, a title he held from April 2018 to March 2021.

    With an impeccable career record of 29 wins and zero losses, Khabib is widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. His achievements were further solidified with his induction into the UFC Hall of Fame in June 2022. His final fight at UFC 254 in October 2020 ended with a submission victory over Justin Gaethje.

    Despite stepping away from active competition, Khabib continues to guide his teammates to success. However, when it was announced that Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov would compete back-to-back at UFC 311, “The Eagle” expressed mixed feelings about his coaching responsibilities.

    ā€œI donā€™t like [coaching], but I have to be here,ā€ Khabib said in video uploaded by Demetrious Johnson. ā€œItā€™s gonna be a very big night for us at UFC 311, with Tagir [Ulanbekov], Umar for the title, and Islam defending his belt. I cannot be home; I have to be here, but I donā€™t like this.ā€

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov: Merab Dvalishvili ‘Cannot Deal’ With Life As A UFC Champion

    Khabib Nurmagomedov: Merab Dvalishvili ‘Cannot Deal’ With Life As A UFC Champion

    Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is planning to guide a prominent member of his team to title glory at the expense of a riled-up Merab Dvalishvili next month.

    Dvalishvili has his first defense of the bantamweight title in the calendar, coming four months on from his crowning against Sean O’Malley at the Sphere this past September.

    To cement his grip on the crown, the Georgian is tasked with pushing away a challenge from undefeated contender Umar Nurmagomedov, cousin of the legendary Khabib.

    “The Machine” had been vocal in attempting to dismiss Nurmagomedov’s title claims, branding the Dagestani unworthy of the opportunity despite his five-round triumph over Cory Sandhagen last time out.

    But with the UFC higher-ups seeing things differently, Dvalishvili will indeed put the gold on the line against the highly regarded 28-year-old at UFC 311 on Jan. 18. In the lead-up, the champ still isn’t keeping quiet about his frustration, and that threatened to boil over at the recent on-sale press conference in Las Vegas.

    During an interview posted by Red Corner MMA on Instagram, Khabib assessed Dvalishvili’s ongoing fury about his cousin being granted a first championship opportunity, questioning whether the Georgian is cut out to occupy a throne on MMA’s biggest stage.

    “I think when (Dvalishvili was) beginning his career, he was acting good. When he became champion, he cannot deal with this,” Khabib said. “Because life changing. Before champion and after champion, there is two (lives). You have to deal with this.

    “About Umar (getting a) gift ā€” I think Umar deserves (it). I donā€™t know why Merab (is) nervous,” Khabib continued. “Umar’s here not because he is my cousin. Heā€™s here because heā€™s 18-0 and 6-0 in the UFC. Umar wants to create his legacy. January 18, he will show why Merab (is) nervous.”

    Should Khabib and his team have their way in Los Angeles, Dvalishvili will return to life as a contender soon enough.

    But “The Machine” is hell bent on proving his view of Nurmagomedov correct come fight night early next year by emphatically stalling the Russian’s title ambitions in their tracks.

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Advises Former Opponents Dustin Poirier & Justin Gaethje To Retire

    Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov retired on top, leaving the sport after a dominant submission victory over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.

    Despite UFC CEO Dana White’s efforts to lure him back, Khabib remains firm in his decision to stay retired. However, he remains active in the sport as a trainer and continues to keep a close eye on the MMA landscape.

    The Dagestani has witnessed the decline of several notable fighters, including Dustin Poirier, Gaethje, and Tony Ferguson, and he has urged them to step away from competition.

    ā€œI think Poirier has to stop fighting. I think heā€™s finished,ā€ Khabib said during an interview on the Pound 4 Pound podcast. ā€œJustin Gaethje, Khabib, Dustin Poirier, Tony Ferguson ā€” this is old school, brother. Stop fighting. We have to recognize relevance.ā€

    Khabib’s protĆ©gĆ©, Islam Makhachev, recently defeated Poirier to retain the lightweight title. That loss marked the Louisianan’s third failed title bid, and he has since announced that he will retire after his next fight.

    Meanwhile, Gaethje is coming off a brutal knockout loss at UFC 300 and has yet to schedule a return. Ferguson, on the other hand, is on an eight-fight losing streak and hasnā€™t won a bout since 2019.

  • Teammate Says ‘Different Level’ Khabib Nurmagomedov Could Defeat Dricus Du Plessis At Middleweight

    Teammate Says ‘Different Level’ Khabib Nurmagomedov Could Defeat Dricus Du Plessis At Middleweight

    When Khabib Nurmagomedov announced that he would be retiring from MMA at UFC 254 in 2020, he did what very few athletes are able to do. “The Eagle” left the sport that he had dedicated his life to whilst being at the very top of the game.

    With an undefeated record of 29-0 and three title defenses under his belt, Nurmagomedov stuck to the promise that he had made his mother following the tragic loss of his father and coach, Abdulmanap. Who knows how much longer the champion could’ve stayed at the top but his final performance inside the Octagon against Justin Gaethje proved that he was still the best lightweight in the world by some distance.

    Since then, he has used his unbreakable mentality and elite experience to benefit the fighters around him by acting as a coach. His team recently had success at the 2024 PFL World Championships in Riyadh where Gadzhi Rabadanov brought even more lightweight gold to their trophy cabinet by stopping Brent Primus.

    In an interview with Bloody Elbow, Rabadanov spoke about the former UFC lightweight king and how he continues to be incredibly dedicated even after hanging up the gloves for good.

    ā€œHe trains like a professional fighter still, ever single day, heā€™s never going to stop. If he could heā€™d train while heā€™s flying or in the Arabian dessert.ā€

    Though he is still constantly training alongside his teammates, Nurmagomedov has put on a fair bit of size since stepping away which isn’t necessarily surprising given that lightweight was a difficult weight cut for him at several points in his career. With that in mind, though he doesn’t think Khabib will ever come back, Rabadanov believes that he could be a champion again in whatever weight class he ends up in.

    He believes that 185-pounds would probably be a better fit for “The Eagle” at this point in time but that doesn’t mean that Dricus Du Plessis would be able to stop from him getting his hands on UFC gold again if that’s what he really wanted.

    ā€œHeā€™s not lightweight any more. I think maybe middleweight is good. 100 per cent [he could beatĀ Dricus Du Plessis]. Khabib is different level.ā€

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov Calls For Movsar Evloev Title Shot After UFC 310

    Khabib Nurmagomedov Calls For Movsar Evloev Title Shot After UFC 310

    Legendary former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov wants to see his fellow countryman, top-five featherweight Movsar Evloev, as the next challenger for Ilia Topuria.

    Evloev made his latest appearance on the preliminary card of Saturday’s UFC 310 pay-per-view in Las Vegas, where his second outing of the year came against an ex-bantamweight titleholder in Aljamain Sterling.

    After his decision victory over Arnold Allen this past January wasn’t enough to impress the promotional higher-ups, the Russian had more work to do to place himself in a strong position heading into 2025.

    And although “Funk Master” gave him a run for his money, Evloev ultimately did just that by earning the nod on all three scorecards following three rounds of entertaining grappling action at T-Mobile Arena.

    Evloev had a ‘what will be, will be’ attitude when asked about whether he’s done enough for a title shot by Joe Rogan post-fight. But there’s little doubt about the merit of the #5-ranked contender’s claim in the eyes of another undefeated Russian…

    “19:0 in MMA and 9:0 in UFC,” Khabib wrote. “I think @MovsarUFC deserves title shot.”

    Evloev’s performance on Saturday night maintained his undefeated record in the Octagon, but he is still searching for his first finish under the UFC banner.

    Whether or not that fact will dent his push for the gold remains to be seen, but Evloev appears to have gained considerable support for his hopes to battle Topuria in 2025 after a hard-fought triumph over Sterling in “Sin City.”

  • Daniel Cormier Explains Why He Avoids Interviewing Conor McGregor

    Daniel Cormier Explains Why He Avoids Interviewing Conor McGregor

    Even if you’ve lived under a rock, you might have heard about the conflict between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov. The UFC lightweight superstars fought for the title in October 2018, and soon after submitting the Irishman in the fourth, Nurmagomedov jumped over the Octagon to attack Dillon Danis.

    UFC 229 ended with one of the most heated brawls in the promotion’s history. To this day, “The Eagle” has never tried to mend his relationship with McGregor and they’re likely rivals for life.

    Nurmagmedov’s close relationship with former UFC double champ Daniel Cormier is also no secret. The duo makes for a popular bromance in MMA circles and over the years, their bond has strengthened considerably. So much so that Nurmagomedov and Cormier consider each other as close as family.

    During the latest episode of 3 Rounds on his YouTube channel, Cormier admitted to no longer approaching McGregor for interviews and other media interactions. The reason? “The Notorious” conflicts with “The Eagle.”

    “I don’t try to request McGregor for interviews. I don’t think that I would get him but I’m just saying it’s not a request I make every time I’m there. But this like, part of the course for these dudes. Because honestly, Khabib’s not just a teammate. He’s family. And they’re like that with everyone and they feel like if someone’s in conflict, especially at the level that Jones and I. Jones and I were in conflict, they’re very stern in the side they pick. And it’s kind of refreshing because most people aren’t like that guys. They’re just not, especially us, as Americans. So, watching that, that wasn’t crazy for me. Dude, he really is the man. Khabib is the man. He’s got to be one of the most genuine humans I’ve ever met.”

    The former UFC heavyweight champ also highlighted the time when Nurmagomedov claimed Jones would never be a friend because of the latter’s conflict with DC. Cormier acknowledged that the undefeated UFC lightweight’s philosophy is not very common in the United States, but he agrees with it now.

    Both Cormier and Nurmagomedov have retired from MMA, but it is safe to assume their close friendship will remain strong behind the scenes.

  • UFC Legends Debate ESPNā€™s Top 10 List, Question Whether Khabib Deserves His Spot

    UFC Legends Debate ESPNā€™s Top 10 List, Question Whether Khabib Deserves His Spot

    Lists are always going to create discussion in regards to which options should or shouldn’t have made it onto the final version. This is no different with ESPN’s Top 10 men’s MMA fighters of the 21st century list.

    Unsurprisingly, the current UFC heavyweight champion and consensus greatest of all time, Jon Jones, takes the top spot with the usual cast following behind him. Welterweight great Georges St-Pierre is the runner-up with the long-time champion of the weight class above him, Anderson Silva, rounding out the top three.

    Dominant champions Demetrious Johnson and Khabib Nurmagomedov make up the top five whilst Fedor Emelianenko, Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, BJ Penn and Kamaru Usman complete the full list.

    On a recent episode of the Jaxxon Podcast, two men who are in a great position to debate the list did just that as Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Liddell spoke about who could have earned a spot that ultimately didn’t.

    Jackson, perhaps controversially, said that he isn’t sure whether the number five pick had enough fights at the highest level to be considered, especially when someone like Matt Hughes didn’t make the cut.

    ā€œNothing against Khabib, I just donā€™t think he fought enough fights. To be on there and to not have Matt Hughes on there, you know what Iā€™m saying cus he was champion for a long time.ā€

    Liddell, who did make the cut, responded by agreeing with his former opponent’s take that Hughes deserves a mention. He also named one other great champion that would have undoubtedly been in contention, even if some of his best work was done before he arrived in the UFC.

    ā€œIf you look at the strength of opponents, you know. Thereā€™s some other guys in there, JosĆ© Aldo. A beast man, for years. Those lists are lists man and all those guys are quality guys. Itā€™s tough really.ā€