Tag: Khabib Nurmagomedov

Barnburner Alert: Donald Cerrone vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov Reportedly Booked for UFC 178 in September [UPDATE: GOD DAMN IT]

(Video related. / Self-props: The CP tumblr)

UPDATE: “20 minutes after Khabib-Cerrone fight was signed, Khabib blew his knee out and the fight is off UFC 178 card” — Kevin Iole. WHY MUST YOU MOCK US, GOD???

Feel free to stop reading at this point. An amazing fight was booked, and we were struck down for our hubris. End of story.

*****

According to a tweet by semi-retired MMA journalist Mike Chiappetta, lightweight gunslinger Donald Cerrone and Dagestani bear–wrestler Khabib Nurmagomedov will face off at UFC 178: Jones vs. Gustafsson 2, September 27th in Las Vegas.

Not only is it a fantastic matchup, it could potentially produce a title contender, as both men are currently hovering around the top of the 155-pound division. Cerrone’s knockout of Jim Miller on Wednesday was his fourth-straight victory, with all wins by stoppage (and all wins earning him a performance bonus).

Nurmagomedov is a perfect 6-0 in the UFC, and 22-0 (!) overall. He most recently out-pointed Rafael Dos Anjos in April, then decided to take the summer off due to Ramadan. After Cerrone’s win over Miller, Nurmy tweeted out the following:


(Video related. / Self-props: The CP tumblr)

UPDATE: “20 minutes after Khabib-Cerrone fight was signed, Khabib blew his knee out and the fight is off UFC 178 card” — Kevin Iole. WHY MUST YOU MOCK US, GOD???

Feel free to stop reading at this point. An amazing fight was booked, and we were struck down for our hubris. End of story.

*****

According to a tweet by semi-retired MMA journalist Mike Chiappetta, lightweight gunslinger Donald Cerrone and Dagestani bear–wrestler Khabib Nurmagomedov will face off at UFC 178: Jones vs. Gustafsson 2, September 27th in Las Vegas.

Not only is it a fantastic matchup, it could potentially produce a title contender, as both men are currently hovering around the top of the 155-pound division. Cerrone’s knockout of Jim Miller on Wednesday was his fourth-straight victory, with all wins by stoppage (and all wins earning him a performance bonus).

Nurmagomedov is a perfect 6-0 in the UFC, and 22-0 (!) overall. He most recently out-pointed Rafael Dos Anjos in April, then decided to take the summer off due to Ramadan. After Cerrone’s win over Miller, Nurmy tweeted out the following:

While the fight will certainly be scheduled for three rounds, that’s more than enough time for Cowboy and the Eagle to put on an all-out war. Who ya got?

The Jones/Gustafsson 2 card will also feature Dominick Cruz’s return against Takeya Mizugaki, Cat Zingano’s return against Amanda Nunes, and Tim Kennedy defending our liberties against Yoel Romero. Daddy likey.

Khabib Nurmagomedov ‘Ready’ for 5-Round Fight with Donald Cerrone

Following his head-kick knockout over Jim Miller on Wednesday night, former WEC title challenger Donald Cerrone only has so many matchups that make sense for him at the top of the UFC’s lightweight division. 
Luckily, he called out top contender K…

Following his head-kick knockout over Jim Miller on Wednesday night, former WEC title challenger Donald Cerrone only has so many matchups that make sense for him at the top of the UFC’s lightweight division. 

Luckily, he called out top contender Khabib Nurmagomedov prior to the bout with Miller, per MMA Fight Corner, and the undefeated Russian superstar likes the idea. 

The American Kickboxing Academy standout is apparently not very patient, as he has already sent out a follow-up message to the UFC and company president Dana White. 

The win on Wednesday evening marked Cerrone‘s fourth in a row since November of last year, with all of the victories coming via a stoppage. 

While Cowboy is undeniably on a roll, Nurmagomedov arguably has more momentum than anybody else on the UFC roster. 

Boasting an unblemished 22-0 professional record overall, The Eagle is 6-0 inside the Octagon since January 2012—largely due to the fact that no one has come up with an answer for his takedowns. 

The Russian grappler’s last victory came against fellow contender Rafael dos Anjos at UFC on Fox 11 in April, as the Brazilian couldn’t solve Nurmagomedov‘s ground game. 

According to the UFC’s official rankings, Nurmagomedov is the No. 4 lightweight in the company, while Cerrone cracks the list at No. 6, though that may change after his decisive win over Miller. 

Following UFC Fight Night 45, is there a high-profile lightweight clash that makes more sense than Cerrone vs. Nurmagomedov? 

 

John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.

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UFC Fight Night 45: Cerrone vs. Nurmagomedov Is the Only Fight to Make

Sometimes, the path is pretty clear when it comes to matchmaking in the UFC. Sometimes, two dogs are snarling at each other through the chain link, and you’ve just got to put them together and let them hash it out.
After UFC Fight Night 45 and the rema…

Sometimes, the path is pretty clear when it comes to matchmaking in the UFC. Sometimes, two dogs are snarling at each other through the chain link, and you’ve just got to put them together and let them hash it out.

After UFC Fight Night 45 and the remarkable showing by one Donald Cerrone, it’s pretty clear who he should fight next: prospect-turned-contender Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Cerrone looked excellent in stopping Jim Miller in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Wednesday night. He was smooth and confident, tackling the hometown slugger with the type of slick grace that is always evident when he’s on his game.

He was focused and committed to his plan of attack, and when the chance came to end the fight, he very calmly did so.

It was a textbook Cowboy victory—the type he’s had on occasion in the past and the type that truly makes one wonder if he could be a champion.

When he’s going like he was in AC, few men can match him.

One way to find out about that championship potential is to give him Nurmagomedov.

The young Russian is a chore for anyone in the game. At 22-0, the cold-blooded fighter has found it increasingly difficult to find opponents with each dominant win.

However, Cerrone is by no means afraid of a fight. He’ll sign on the dotted line.

Above all, the bout would accomplish two things.

It would settle, once and for all, whether or not Cerrone has the skills to contend for a title before his time in the sport is complete. It would also give Nurmagomedov the chance at a big signature win before he challenges for the title.

Whoever walks out of their meeting would have a pretty obvious claim to a title shot, especially considering the relative flux at the top of the lightweight heap these days.

Benson Henderson won’t get a shot anytime soon, Josh Thomson is fighting in a week, and TJ Grant has been out for a year with a concussion. After Gilbert Melendez gets his chance in December, there is no clear top guy to challenge for gold.

A few months ago, the UFC got it incredibly correct when it booked Cerrone vs. Miller. Fight Night 45’s thrilling main event proved as much.

The company now has the chance to get it right with Cerrone again, but this time against a tougher opponent and with higher stakes.

Cerrone vs. Nurmagomedov isn’t just a fight to make, it’s the only fight to make.

 

Follow me on Twitter @matthewjryder!

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UFC Fight Night 42: 5 Potential Opponents for Benson Henderson

UFC Fight Night 42 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was a big night for Benson Henderson, as the former lightweight champion scored his first stoppage victory inside the Octagon. His fourth-round rear-naked choke of Rustam Khabilov showed us that Henderson …

UFC Fight Night 42 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was a big night for Benson Henderson, as the former lightweight champion scored his first stoppage victory inside the Octagon. His fourth-round rear-naked choke of Rustam Khabilov showed us that Henderson is capable of more than simply doing enough to earn a decision, cementing his spot at No. 1 in the UFC’s rankings.

Is Henderson evolving into a full-blown finisher? That much remains to be seen. While we don’t know whom he’ll face in his next outing, we know it won’t be Anthony Pettis, who is currently gearing up to coach the 20th season of The Ultimate Fighter opposite Gilbert Melendez.

The two opposing coaches will face off for the lightweight title at the end of the year, leaving Henderson to continue his uphill march back to contention. With most of the lightweight heap already booked in upcoming fights, who should be next for Henderson?

Should he wait for the winner of one of the highly anticipated lightweight scraps taking place over the next two months? Or should he take on someone who doesn’t currently have a dance partner?

Should he take on someone down the ladder a bit, such as Joe Lauzon or Myles Jury? Or should he go toe-to-toe with Khabib Nurmagomedov or Rafael dos Anjos?

Let’s take a look at five options for Henderson’s next opponent.

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UFC Lightweights Anthony Pettis and Khabib Nurmagomedov Trade Twitter Barbs

Twitter has become a powerful marketing tool for fighters to improve their standing in the UFC’s ranks.
Surging lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov took full advantage of the social media platform by calling out UFC lightweight champ Anthony Pett…

Twitter has become a powerful marketing tool for fighters to improve their standing in the UFC’s ranks.

Surging lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov took full advantage of the social media platform by calling out UFC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis.

Things got started when Benson Henderson took a slight jab at Pettis in the post-fight press conference for being injured and not defending the lightweight title since winning it back in August.

While Pettis was focusing on his biggest rival in the lightweight division, Nurmagomedov let Pettis know there’s another man he should be concerned with.

Pettis responded by questioning the strength of Nurmagomedov‘s resume.

The exciting lightweight contender would then echo what Henderson mentioned by pointing out how injury prone Pettis has been thus far in his MMA career.

Although Pettis would remove the tweet, Bloody Elbow was able to capture Pettis saying that he’s not worried about Nurmagomedov because his car costs more than Nurmagomedov‘s house.

Nurmagomedov would then send a final two tweets toward Pettis in regard to his financial situation.

Although Pettis has become one of the most exciting fighters on the UFC roster, he has had a number of injury issues. Those injuries have caused Pettis to compete only five times since coming over from the WEC back in 2011.

Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, has yet to taste defeat in his MMA career with a record of 22-0. His latest win came over top-five-ranked Rafael dos Anjos, and the Dagestan native has been nothing short of must-see TV in the Octagon.

He’s also apparently a guy nobody wants to fight.

Pettis will be on the sidelines until later this year as he will be coaching opposite Gilbert Melendez on the next season of The Ultimate Fighter. Nurmagomedov will likely take another high-profile fight to cement his status as a top contender, which likely means we haven’t seen the end of these two exchanging words.

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Even as an Adult, Khabib Nurmagomedov Is Still Wrestling Bears [VIDEO]

(Props: Khabib’s Instagram)

Khabib Nurmagomedov is taking his new bear-wrestler persona and running with it. The undefeated lightweight phenom just posted an Instagram video of him grappling with a chained, muzzled bear, then trying to slap a high-five with it at the end, as if the bear has any idea what he’s trying to communicate. Seems a little inhumane, but Nurmagomedov comes from a different culture, and WE MUST NOT JUDGE, right?

Speaking of cultural differences, MMAJunkie reports that the UFC originally wanted to book Nurmagomedov to fight Jim Miller on the July 16th Atlantic City UFC Fight Night card, but Nurmagomedov’s management turned it down because the fight fell on Ramadan, and the Dagestan native is a practicing Muslim. Instead, Miller will fight Donald Cerrone, and Nurmagomedov is expected to return to the Octagon by September against an opponent to be named later.


(Props: Khabib’s Instagram)

Khabib Nurmagomedov is taking his new bear-wrestler persona and running with it. The undefeated lightweight phenom just posted an Instagram video of him grappling with a chained, muzzled bear, then trying to slap a high-five with it at the end, as if the bear has any idea what he’s trying to communicate. Seems a little inhumane, but Nurmagomedov comes from a different culture, and WE MUST NOT JUDGE, right?

Speaking of cultural differences, MMAJunkie reports that the UFC originally wanted to book Nurmagomedov to fight Jim Miller on the July 16th Atlantic City UFC Fight Night card, but Nurmagomedov’s management turned it down because the fight fell on Ramadan, and the Dagestan native is a practicing Muslim. Instead, Miller will fight Donald Cerrone, and Nurmagomedov is expected to return to the Octagon by September against an opponent to be named later.