Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Khabib Nurmagomedov will make his long-awaited return to action on October 24, 2020 to defend his lightweight title against current interim champion, Justin Gaethje, at a location that has yet-to-be determined.
Like in his matchup against Dustin Poirier, Khabib doesn’t have any grudge or animosity going into the bout against “The Highlight.” But that didn’t stop “The Eagle” from issuing a fair warning to one of the most dangerous strikers in the history of the sport.
Indeed, Khabib took the opportunity to once again reply to one of Joe Rogan’s Instagram posts after the UFC color commentator sang Gaethje’s praises.
“Justin is a very nice guy and good opponent for me, but when Octagon close he have to be ready not only boxing match, I’m not Dustin or Tony,” he said. “I will take him to the deepest ocean and drown him InshaAllah.”
Perhaps the scariest part of that statement is that it’s a proven fact that all Khabib does is maul and overwhelm his foes, but to see him warn someone he actually likes and respects of what’s to come adds a little bit more chill factor to it.
Indeed, Nurmagomedov seems more than motivated ahead of his third title defense following the death of his father a few weeks ago due to several complications stemming from COVID-19, which delayed his return a month.
Now I know what many of you are going to say: “That’s not Khabib, that’s Ali responding.” So I will go ahead and use the defense that Ali Abdelaziz manages both fighters, so using one’s social media to “trash talk” the other would just be super-weird…right?