Khabib Nurmagomedov, the No. 2-ranked contender in the lightweight division, is set to meet Donald Cerrone at UFC 187 on May 23. A win will likely put him in line as the next title challenger.
Nurmagomedov has all the makings of a champion—both in and out of the cage.
In the cage, he’s perfect with a spotless 22-0 record, with six of those victories coming inside the Octagon. He has dominated his opposition as he’s climbed the ranks of the UFC’s most talent-rich division.
According to his FightMetric stats, Nurmagomedov averages just above seven takedowns per fight. In his last match, against now-champion Rafael dos Anjos, Nurmagomedov landed six takedowns in a decision win. His 35 total takedowns rank sixth in lightweight division history.
His grappling is some of the best in the division because of his relentlessness and tenacity. The American Kickboxing Academy lightweight is only getting better at the top-tier camp and will soon be able to add great striking to his repertoire.
He is already a contender. Once the final piece of the puzzle drops into place, we will be crowning a new champion.
Outside the cage, Nurmagomedov is doing all he can to make himself marketable. He is certainly not bashful. The lightweight contender has even crashed a press conference to try to garner some attention. If not for an injury, Nurmagomedov may have talked himself into the title fight.
On social media, Nurmagomedov has already carved out a niche as one of the best fighters to follow. Bleacher Report’s own Jeremy Botter said he would be the reigning Twitter champion if such a distinction existed.
He’s not wrong.
Nurmagomedov could be a valuable star for the UFC as it continues expanding throughout Europe. His dominance inside the cage makes him even more appealing. The Eagle has yet to lose a round in his UFC career. He ragdolls his opponents furiously from bell-to-bell.
His out-of-cage boasting is that of a champion. There are certainly loudmouths who are doing nothing more than trying to get attention, but Nurmagomedov is the exception. Look down the list of combat sport champions and you will see confident men and women who are not afraid to make waves. Nurmagomedov fits the mold.
He backs up everything he says.
Cerrone is coming off a stellar 2014 campaign, but he is taking on a different animal in two months’ time. Nurmagomedov is one of the toughest opponents, if not the toughest, he will have ever faced. The stylistic matchup also should give Cowboy fits.
The case for Nurmagomedov‘s 2015 title bid will either be closed by Cerrone or get its stamp of approval at UFC 187.
The smart money is on Nurmagomedov to wear 12 pounds of gold by year’s end. Believe what he says—he is not lying. His confidence is bathed in truth, and the proof is in his work. The Eagle is the future of the lightweight division.
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