Tag: Khabib Nurmagomedov

Ex-UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov backed to ‘easily’ beat Sean Strickland in title fight: ‘It will be no Effort to him’

Khabib Nurmagomedov backed to easily beat Sean Strickland in UFC it would be no effortFormer undisputed lightweight champion and Hall of Fame inductee, Khabib Nurmagomedov has been backed to “easily” dispatch incumbent middleweight…

Khabib Nurmagomedov backed to easily beat Sean Strickland in UFC it would be no effort

Former undisputed lightweight champion and Hall of Fame inductee, Khabib Nurmagomedov has been backed to “easily” dispatch incumbent middleweight kingpin, Sean Strickland if he ever makes a return to the UFC – that’s according to close friend and training partner, Islam Makhachev.

Nurmagomedov, a former undisputed lightweight champion under the banner of the UFC, called time on his 29-0 undefeated professional career back in 2020, landing a second round triangle choke submission win over then-interim lightweight titleholder, Justin Gaethje.

In the time since, the Dagestani wrestling ace has turned his hand to coaching alongside head coach, Javier Mendez at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California, guiding the aforenoted, Makhachev to a vacant title win over former champion, Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 back in October of last year.

Khabib Nurmagomedov backed to even defeat Sean Strickland in a middleweight move

Noting his awareness of fan interest in a return to the Octagon for him for one final fight in search of a perfect 30-fight professional career, Nurmagomedov has been backed to even prove too much for middleweight champion, Strickland if he makes a comeback, by UFC 294 headliner, Makhachev.

“Today, I was asked: Can Khabib (Nurmagomedov) come back and beat Sean Strickland in a championship fight?” Islam Makhachev said on his official Instagram account. “I can confidently answer that he can easily do it. It’s been three years since Khabib Nurmagomedov retired but he never misses a training session and I can say without a doubt, if he wants to, it’ll be no effort to him.”

Winning the middleweight crown back in September, Covina native, Strickland turned in a spectacular upset win over former two-time divisional champion, Israel Adesanya, stopping the City Kickboxing striker with a one-sided unanimous decision win in Sydney, Australia. 

What are your thoughts on a fight between Sean Strickland and Khabib Nurmagomedov?

Khabib Nurmagomedov addresses UFC 294 title fight fallout: ‘If King Kong can make 155, bring this guy here’

Khabib Nurmagomedov addresses UFC 294 title fight fallout if King Kong can make 155 bring this guySet to feature in the camp of teammate Islam Makhachev ahead of UFC 294, former lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov appears to be taking things business as usual, despite the withdrawal of Charles Oliveira, and the short notice entry of Alexander Volkanovski atop the card. Nurmagomedov, a former undisputed lightweight champion and recent Hall of Fame […]

Khabib Nurmagomedov addresses UFC 294 title fight fallout if King Kong can make 155 bring this guy

Set to feature in the camp of teammate Islam Makhachev ahead of UFC 294, former lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov appears to be taking things business as usual, despite the withdrawal of Charles Oliveira, and the short notice entry of Alexander Volkanovski atop the card.

Nurmagomedov, a former undisputed lightweight champion and recent Hall of Fame inductee, will return to the training camp of close friend and training partner, Makhachev for the remainder of his preparations ahead of UFC 294 next weekend. 

Hoping to prepare his compatriot for a title fight rematch against Oliveira, a certain spanner was thrown into the works for the Abu Dhabi card overnight, with Makhachev now facing featherweight champion and pound-for-pound kingpin, Alexander Volkanovski on short notice, after the Brazilian suffered a cut in training, requiring medical attention and ruling him from his own championship rematch.

Khabib Nurmagomedov backs Islam Makhachev to beat all comers at UFC 294

Addressing the short-notice switch around just 10 days out from Makhachev’s return, Nurmagomedov claims a host of lightweight contenders – and even King Kong could stand opposite Makhachev, and the outcome would land in favor of the incumbent champion.

“Okay, this is the situation, brother,” Khabib Nurmagomedov told Anatomy of a Fighter. “Islam (Makhachev) is a world champion, right now. If somebody can make 155 (pounds), and the UFC say this guy is a contender, who cares? It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter who. If King Kong can make 155 (pounds), okay, bring this guy here. It doesn’t matter.”

“I told Ali (Abdelaziz), and I know Islam (Makhachev) today, ‘Brother, it doesn’t matter, you’re the world champion,’” Khabib Nurmagomedov explained. “Volk (Alexander Volkanovski), Charles (Oliveira), (Dustin) Poirier, Justin (Gaethje), it doesn’t matter, brother. Like, it’s supposed to be Charles okay, he pull out. But we already beat him. And we don’t care about this. If they [the UFC] want Volk again – first fight it was very good, very competitive fight, but we know, and they’re team know we win a unanimous decision. It was not even split decision, it was unanimous decision. Yes, Volk was looking good on that fight, but he lose. …”

Do you agree with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s assessment of UFC 294?

Conor McGregor hits out at bitter UFC foe Khabib Nurmagomedov on anniversary of fight: ‘Dead rats in the swamp’

Conor McGregor hits out at Khabib Nurmagomedov dead rats in the swamp anniversary of UFC fightOn the fifth anniversary of his blockbuster lightweight title fight with bitter UFC enemy, Khabib Nurmagomedov, former two-division champion, Conor McGregor has branded the Russian and his teammates “dead rats in the swamp” in another heated outburst aimed at his fellow former champion. Headlining UFC 229 five years ago against American Kickboxing Academy staple, Nurmagomedov, […]

Conor McGregor hits out at Khabib Nurmagomedov dead rats in the swamp anniversary of UFC fight

On the fifth anniversary of his blockbuster lightweight title fight with bitter UFC enemy, Khabib Nurmagomedov, former two-division champion, Conor McGregor has branded the Russian and his teammates “dead rats in the swamp” in another heated outburst aimed at his fellow former champion.

Headlining UFC 229 five years ago against American Kickboxing Academy staple, Nurmagomedov, Dublin striker, Conor McGregor suffered an eventual fourth round neck crank submission loss to the former in the pair’s infamous lightweight title fight.

The bout culminated after McGregor’s return to professional mixed martial arts, following a boxing debut loss to Floyd Mayweather in August of the year prior, with the Crumlin counter puncher goading and aiming fierce digs and personal insults toward Nurmagomedov in run-up to their championship showdown.

And at the end of the clash, Nurmagomedov, who was pried off of a submitted McGregor by referee, Herb Dean, scaled the Octagon – and launching a flying attack on McGregor’s corner team, including the highly-outspoken grappler, Dillon Danis.

With security officials attempting to corral Nurmagomedov and break up a fight outside of the Octagon, inside the cage, McGregor who had since returned to his feet, was attacked by members of Nurmagomedov’s team, including Zubaira Tukhugov – engaging in a brawl with the mean. 

Conor McGregor again hits out at Khabib Nurmagomedov

Continuing to aim vitriolic barbs toward Nurmagomedov since his 2020 retirement from mixed martial arts, McGregor reflected on the brawl and the Russian’s team on the fifth anniversary of their clash this morning on social media – labelling them “Dead rats in the swamp”. 

Himself sidelined since he fractured his left leg against common-foe, Dustin Poirier back in 2021, McGregor is expected to make an early Octagon return next year, in a welterweight division clash against Michael Chandler – re-entering the USADA testing pool earlier this week. 

What are your thoughts on Conor McGregor’s latest verbal spat with Khabib Nurmagomedov?

Conor McGregor hits out at bitter UFC foe Khabib Nurmagomedov on anniversary of fight: ‘Dead rats in the swamp’

Conor McGregor hits out at Khabib Nurmagomedov dead rats in the swamp anniversary of UFC fightOn the fifth anniversary of his blockbuster lightweight title fight with bitter UFC enemy, Khabib Nurmagomedov, former two-division champion, Conor McGregor has branded the Russian and his teammates “dead rats in the swamp” in another heated outburst aimed at his fellow former champion. Headlining UFC 229 five years ago against American Kickboxing Academy staple, Nurmagomedov, […]

Conor McGregor hits out at Khabib Nurmagomedov dead rats in the swamp anniversary of UFC fight

On the fifth anniversary of his blockbuster lightweight title fight with bitter UFC enemy, Khabib Nurmagomedov, former two-division champion, Conor McGregor has branded the Russian and his teammates “dead rats in the swamp” in another heated outburst aimed at his fellow former champion.

Headlining UFC 229 five years ago against American Kickboxing Academy staple, Nurmagomedov, Dublin striker, Conor McGregor suffered an eventual fourth round neck crank submission loss to the former in the pair’s infamous lightweight title fight.

The bout culminated after McGregor’s return to professional mixed martial arts, following a boxing debut loss to Floyd Mayweather in August of the year prior, with the Crumlin counter puncher goading and aiming fierce digs and personal insults toward Nurmagomedov in run-up to their championship showdown.

And at the end of the clash, Nurmagomedov, who was pried off of a submitted McGregor by referee, Herb Dean, scaled the Octagon – and launching a flying attack on McGregor’s corner team, including the highly-outspoken grappler, Dillon Danis.

With security officials attempting to corral Nurmagomedov and break up a fight outside of the Octagon, inside the cage, McGregor who had since returned to his feet, was attacked by members of Nurmagomedov’s team, including Zubaira Tukhugov – engaging in a brawl with the mean. 

Conor McGregor again hits out at Khabib Nurmagomedov

Continuing to aim vitriolic barbs toward Nurmagomedov since his 2020 retirement from mixed martial arts, McGregor reflected on the brawl and the Russian’s team on the fifth anniversary of their clash this morning on social media – labelling them “Dead rats in the swamp”. 

Himself sidelined since he fractured his left leg against common-foe, Dustin Poirier back in 2021, McGregor is expected to make an early Octagon return next year, in a welterweight division clash against Michael Chandler – re-entering the USADA testing pool earlier this week. 

What are your thoughts on Conor McGregor’s latest verbal spat with Khabib Nurmagomedov?

Khabib Nurmagomedov set to finish training Islam Makhachev for UFC 294 title fight: ‘He’s gonna be here’

Khabib Nurmagomedov set to train Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 title fightDespite taking a distinct step away from the coaching side of the sport in the last year, former undisputed lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov is set to be on site in the remaining two week of teammate, Islam Makhachev’s training camp – to help prepare the current champion for his rematch title defense against Charles Oliveira […]

Khabib Nurmagomedov set to train Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 title fight

Despite taking a distinct step away from the coaching side of the sport in the last year, former undisputed lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov is set to be on site in the remaining two week of teammate, Islam Makhachev’s training camp – to help prepare the current champion for his rematch title defense against Charles Oliveira at UFC 294 next weekend.

Nurmagomedov, a former undisputed lightweight champion himself and staple at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California, guided training partner and close friend, Makhachev to the vacant lightweight throne back in October of last year, with the latter submitting former champion, Oliviera with a second round arm-triangle submission in. 

However, electing against travelling with Makhachev for his February title defense against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284 back in February, Nurmagomedov had taken a further step back from the sport he himself had retired from back in 2020.

Khabib Nurmagomedov set to train Islam Makhachev for UFC 294 title fight

And yet to make a return to corner work for Makhachev ahead of UFC 294 next weekend against Sao Paulo finishing ace, Oliveira, Nurmagomedov has been confirmed as travelling to the Middle East to help Makhachev put the finishing touches on his training camp.

“He (Khabib Nurmagomedov) will come tomorrow, train with us in the camp,” Islam Makhachev told ESPN MMA during a recent interview ahead of UFC 294. “He’s not going to be my corner coach, but he will be here to help… we come here, like 40 guys, the whole team. I don’t know fight day where he’s going to be, but next two weeks, he’s gonna be here.” 

“I miss the time when we were training together, when he (Khabib Nurmagomedov) had fight, when I had fight,” Islam Makhachev explained. “But when he become coach like two years, one year ago, he pressure us very hard, you know? We did drills, almost ten rounds sparring. And after all this work, after one and a half hours, he says, ‘Okay, now five rounds grappling.’”

Can Khabib Nurmagomedov again guide Islam Makhachev to success at UFC 294?

Tony Ferguson reveals Khabib Nurmagomedov’s UFC retirement affected him: ‘A little part of me left’

Tony Ferguson reveals a little part of him left MMA when Khabib Nurmagomedov retired UFCFailing to ever share the Octagon with former undisputed lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov during their respective UFC tenures, former interim titleholder, Tony Ferguson has candidly revealed a part of him “left” when the Russian retired from mixed martial arts back in 2020. Forever on a collision-course, Nurmagomedov and Ferguson failed to ever fight each other […]

Tony Ferguson reveals a little part of him left MMA when Khabib Nurmagomedov retired UFC

Failing to ever share the Octagon with former undisputed lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov during their respective UFC tenures, former interim titleholder, Tony Ferguson has candidly revealed a part of him “left” when the Russian retired from mixed martial arts back in 2020.

Forever on a collision-course, Nurmagomedov and Ferguson failed to ever fight each other under the banner of the UFC, with freak injuries, weight-cut mishaps, and even a global pandemic seeing at least five officially penned pairings between the lightweight veteran scrapped ahead of mouth-watering matchups.

Retiring from mixed martial arts competition back in 2020, Nurmagomedov most recently landed a title unification win over former interim champion and common-foe, Justin Gaethje, submitting the symbolic BMF championship holder with a second round triangle choke.

As for Ferguson, the Oxnard veteran, who once shared a record-setting 12-fight winning run with American Kickboxing Academy staple, Nurmagomedov during his pomp, will attempt to snap a hugely disappointing six-fight losing skid at UFC 296 in December as he takes on Paddy Pimblett.

Tony Ferguson admits Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement affecting his career

And receiving encouragement to call time on his career with a loss to Liverpool contender, Pimblett in December, Ferguson has revealed that when Nurmagomedov called time on his undefeated career, a part of him “left” in tow.

“I know when Khabib (Nurmagomedov) left [MMA], a little part of me left with that,” Tony Ferguson told MMA Fighting during a recent interview. “It kind of sucked a little bit because we’ve always have that, I don’t know – negative energy. But that hype that was built around that. And then when that disappeared and the pandemic hit and f*cking team left and then a whole bunch.”

In his most recent Octagon walk, Ferguson dropped a third round arm-triangle submission loss to Bobby Green at UFC 291 in July, suffering his sixth straight loss. 

Can Tony Ferguson snap his losing skid at UFC 296 in December