Tag: Khabib Nurmagomedov

UFC stars Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev again accused of PED use: ‘They’re loaded like mules’

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev hit with PED accusations they're loaded like mules Benoit Saint Denis UFCFormer undisputed lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov and current division kingpin, Islam Makhachev have once more been slapped with accusations…

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev hit with PED accusations they're loaded like mules Benoit Saint Denis UFC

Former undisputed lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov and current division kingpin, Islam Makhachev have once more been slapped with accusations of utilising PEDs (Performance enhancing drugs) during their respective UFC tenures, according to contender, Benoit Saint Denis, who claimed the pair were “loaded like mules”.

Nurmagomedov, a former undisputed lightweight champion and recent inductee into the promotion’s Hall of Fame, bowed out from the sport back in late 2020, following a spectacular lightweight title unification win over then-interim gold holder, Justin Gaethje in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

As for Islam Makhachev, the American Kickboxing Academy staple and current pound-for-pound number one ranked fighter under the banner of the UFC, headlined a pay-per-view event most recently in October, landing a stunning opening round high-kick knockout win over featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski in the pair’s lightweight rematch.

Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev hit with PED use accusations

And slapped with accusations of utilizing banned substances in the past by common-rival, former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor, Islam Makhachev’s prior indiscretion with the banned substance, meldonium has left the aforenoted, Saint Denis speculating that the stable of fighters are collectively utilizing PEDs “intelligently”.

“Regarding the Nurmagomedov family, for example, I no longer have any doubt,” Benoit Saint Denis told La Figaro during a recent interview. “They are loaded like mules. They are intelligent in the way they do drugs, but they know how to do it very well.”

“(Islam) Makhachev was caught with meldonium, for example, this is a product that got the entire Russian Federation sanctioned and removed from the 2016 Olympics,” Saint Denis continued. “The current UFC lightweight champion got caught in 2016.” 

In the midst of an impressive five-fight undefeated win streak since June of last year, Saint Denis most recently stopped fellow lightweight contender, Matt Frevola with a hellacious first round high-kick KO in the pair’s UFC 295 clash back in November at Madison Square Garden. The stoppage win earned Saint Denis the number twelve rank in the division to boot. 

UFC stars Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev again accused of PED use: ‘They’re loaded like mules’

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev hit with PED accusations they're loaded like mules Benoit Saint Denis UFCFormer undisputed lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov and current division kingpin, Islam Makhachev have once more been slapped with accusations…

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev hit with PED accusations they're loaded like mules Benoit Saint Denis UFC

Former undisputed lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov and current division kingpin, Islam Makhachev have once more been slapped with accusations of utilising PEDs (Performance enhancing drugs) during their respective UFC tenures, according to contender, Benoit Saint Denis, who claimed the pair were “loaded like mules”.

Nurmagomedov, a former undisputed lightweight champion and recent inductee into the promotion’s Hall of Fame, bowed out from the sport back in late 2020, following a spectacular lightweight title unification win over then-interim gold holder, Justin Gaethje in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

As for Islam Makhachev, the American Kickboxing Academy staple and current pound-for-pound number one ranked fighter under the banner of the UFC, headlined a pay-per-view event most recently in October, landing a stunning opening round high-kick knockout win over featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski in the pair’s lightweight rematch.

Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev hit with PED use accusations

And slapped with accusations of utilizing banned substances in the past by common-rival, former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor, Islam Makhachev’s prior indiscretion with the banned substance, meldonium has left the aforenoted, Saint Denis speculating that the stable of fighters are collectively utilizing PEDs “intelligently”.

“Regarding the Nurmagomedov family, for example, I no longer have any doubt,” Benoit Saint Denis told La Figaro during a recent interview. “They are loaded like mules. They are intelligent in the way they do drugs, but they know how to do it very well.”

“(Islam) Makhachev was caught with meldonium, for example, this is a product that got the entire Russian Federation sanctioned and removed from the 2016 Olympics,” Saint Denis continued. “The current UFC lightweight champion got caught in 2016.” 

In the midst of an impressive five-fight undefeated win streak since June of last year, Saint Denis most recently stopped fellow lightweight contender, Matt Frevola with a hellacious first round high-kick KO in the pair’s UFC 295 clash back in November at Madison Square Garden. The stoppage win earned Saint Denis the number twelve rank in the division to boot. 

UFC boss Dana White reveals Khabib Nurmagomedov was ‘Toughest retirement’ he dealt with: ‘He had more to offer’

Dana White claims Khabib Nurmagomedov was toughest retirement in UFC he had more to offerDana White has seen countless legends come and go, but according to him the one that hurt the most…

Dana White claims Khabib Nurmagomedov was toughest retirement in UFC he had more to offer

Dana White has seen countless legends come and go, but according to him the one that hurt the most was watching Khabib Nurmagomedov walk away from the sport.

It’s the story of the elusive 30-0 all over again. Once upon a time, Khabib Nurmagomedov wasn’t one of the greatest UFC fighters to ever live. Back when he was working his way up the UFC rankings, his father had a dream. He wished to see his boy go 30-0 in the most competitive and brutal sport known to man.

Of course, anybody aware of the story knows how the rest goes: Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov tragically passed away shortly before Khabib Nurmagomedov was set to face Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 to attempt to improve his record to 29-0. Abdulmanap passed on Friday, July 3rd, 2020.

Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov’s son went on to defeat Justin Gaethje via submission at UFC 254 just three months later, in the second round. After the fight, Khabib dropped a bombshell and told the world that he was done. He would not be pursuing the ever-elusive 30-0, and he would now honor his mother’s wishes, who wanted him to retire since achieving the 30-0 was a dream that Khabib and his father had shared simultaneously. Khabib’s mother believed it wouldn’t be right for him to achieve this milestone without his father present, and Khabib honored her wishes and has never competed again in the world of professional mixed martial arts.

Here enters: Dana White’s toughest retirement.

Dana White describes the pain of dealing with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement

“The toughest retirement for me?” Dana White began, speaking in an interview. “Khabib was a tough (the toughest) retirement. Because usually when it’s time for them (the fighter) to retire, I’m happy for them to retire. It’s over, you’ve accomplished everything you could possibly accomplish, why keep doing it?”

I think Khabib had so much more to offer,” Dana White continued. “And, so much more to accomplish. But, I think when his dad passed away, he was done. Plus, he made so much money that he never has to do anything else.”

Khabib Nurmagomedov reveals he rejected $40,000,000 offer to make UFC return: ‘it’s very hard to say no’

Khabib Nurmagomedov reveals he rejected 40 million dollars to make UFC return it's hard to say noFormer undisputed lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov has revealed he has turned down offers in the region of a cool…

Khabib Nurmagomedov reveals he rejected 40 million dollars to make UFC return it's hard to say no

Former undisputed lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov has revealed he has turned down offers in the region of a cool $40,000,000 to make a stunning return to the UFC, off the back of his 2020 retirement from combat sports competition.

Nurmagomedov, a former undisputed lightweight champion under the UFC banner and inductee into the organization’s Hall of Fame, called time on his undefeated career back in 2020, following a successful unification win over then-interim champion, Justin Gaethje.

In the time since, Nurmagomedov, who retired boasting an impressive 29-0 professional record, has been linked with a slew of comeback fights, namely in the form of a rematch with bitter arch-rival, Conor McGregor, and former lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira – the latter of which to determine the best lightweight fighter of all time.

Khabib Nurmagomedov reveals massive offers to make UFC return

However, despite noting fan interest in his return to the Octagon, Nurmagomedov has admitted it has been hard for him to continually say no to a potential comeback for a thirtieth professional fight, claiming he has rejected offers in the region of $40,000,000 to do so.

“When you best fighter in the world, when you’re strong enough, when you have money, when you famous, it’s very hard to no to all these things,” Khabib Nurmagomedov told Daniel Cormier ahead of UFC 295 this weekend. “It’s very hard, it’s not easy. It’s not easy just saying no [to] $20, $30, $40,000,000.”

“But, for myself it’s not everything,” Khabib Nurmagomedov explained. “This is not most important. It was not easy decision. But if I decide, I’ve decided it’s finished. I leave this alone. I am happy and like, I never regret with my decision. Never.” 

During his reign as lightweight champion, Nurmagomedov turned in three championship fight wins, defeating the above-mentioned, McGregor and Gaethje, as well as then-interim champion, Dustin Poirier – all three via submission to boot.

Would you like to see Khabib Nurmagomedov compete in the UFC just once more?

UFC star Conor McGregor blasted on social media after aiming racial slur at Pakistani native

Conor McGregorIrish megastar Conor McGregor is once again under fire for using a racial slur against a Pakistani man on…

Conor McGregor

Irish megastar Conor McGregor is once again under fire for using a racial slur against a Pakistani man on social media.

Despite not stepping foot inside the Octagon for over two years, McGregor has stayed in the spotlight, for better or for worse. This time, it’s definitely the latter as fight fans online are calling attention to the former two-division titleholder’s racial attack on a Pakistani man who made mention of his arch-rival, Khabib Nurmagomedov, in a post on X.

“Remember the Name Khabib,” the user wrote. That prompted Conor McGregor to snap back with, “Remember this name ‘wonk nose paki.’

For those unfamiliar, ‘Paki’ is a derogatory ethnic slur originating from the United Kingdom, typically directed towards people of Pakistani descent. Unfortunately, Conor McGregor didn’t stop there, posting then deleting a voice note where he repeats the slur multiple times.

Fight Fans Were Quick to Call Out Conor McGregor, But Will It Matter?

Users online were quick to call out the Irishman for his inexcusable comments. “Ladies and gentlemen I’m afraid to report Conor McGregor is off his nut again,” one fight fan wrote on X.

“Uh oh, #ConorMcGregor found his powder stash, weird and unbelievable tweets incoming,” another added.

One even used it as an opportunity to call out the media saying, “The racial double standards are real in the media.”

Sadly, this is far from the first time that Conor McGregor has made racially charged remarks online. In 2019, the Irishman was slammed on social media after he posted a picture of Khabib Nurmagomedov and his wife on their wedding day with the caption, “Your wife is a towel mate.” The newly-wed bride was wearing a white veil to cover her face, a tradition in some Muslim and other cultures.

McGregor’s ill-advised remark was reposted thousands of times before he decided to remove it.

Despite multiple examples of McGregor’s intolerance, the Irishman appears to be truly immune from losing any of his star power. Perhaps UFC CEO Dana White is partially to blame after giving his fighters free rein to basically say whatever they want without consequence. Even White himself enjoyed the benefits when he faced seemingly no ramifications for slapping his wife during an altercation on New Year’s Eve in Cabo San Lucas.

Conor McGregor hits out at Khabib Nurmagomedov after UFC 294: ‘Homie quit, never forget’

Conor McGregorFive years removed from his iconic fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov, Irish megastar Conor McGregor threw some shade at his…

Conor McGregor

Five years removed from his iconic fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov, Irish megastar Conor McGregor threw some shade at his former opponent.

On October 6, 2018, Conor McGregor returned to the Octagon fresh off his professional boxing debut against Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather. Determined to reclaim the lightweight title, ‘The Notorious’ went toe-to-toe with then-champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in what would become the most-watched fight in the UFC’s 30-year history with a record-breaking 2.4 million pay-per-view purchases.

McGregor decided to commemorate the anniversary by calling out ‘The Eagle’ on the same night that Nurmagomedov’s protege, Islam Makhachev, defeated Alexander Volkanovski via a first-round knockout at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi.

“5 years ago. 2018. I am now a black belt,” McGregor wrote on X. And with faces broken from the clinch on my record. As well as knives and daggers from the bottom. Homie quit, never forget. He is made of a b*tch.”

The Chaos of Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov

Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s rivalry is nothing short of legendary, with the Irishman famously launching a dolly into a bus he thought to be carrying the UFC Hall of Famer long before they ever stepped inside the Octagon. Instead of causing harm to his foe, the incident resulted in multiple fighters, including Michael Chiesa and ‘Thug’ Rose Namajunas suffering injuries and trauma.

After Nurmagomedov’s fourth-round rear-naked choke submission of McGregor at UFC 229, ‘The Eagle’ flew over the top of the cage and immediately went after the Irishman’s cornermen, including Dillon Danis who worked as McGregor’s BJJ coach ahead of the fight. Following the chaotic scene, Nurmagomedov was suspended for nine months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission while McGregor was hit with a six-month suspension for his role in the post-fight brawl.

The Eagle’ went on to defend the lightweight title two more times against Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje before walking away from the sport with a 29-0 record. Focused on training after laying down his own gloves, Nurmagomedov would go on to coach the next lightweight world champion, Islam Makhachev.

Since defeating Charles Oliveira to claim the title at UFC 280, the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ has defended the gold twice against featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski.

Makhachev earned a unanimous decision against ‘The Great’ at UFC 284 in February. He followed that up with a stunning head kick KO against Volkanovski on Saturday night at UFC 294.