Article by Mattan Yuger
It took a while for the MMA community to warm up to Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov, or even learn how to pronounce his name. No one could predict his wild journey and explosive trajectory, since his UFC debut 8 years ago. Cut to 2020, Khabib has become the face of the sport, an international star and earned his GOAT status. Even with all the fame, distractions and controversies, he remained the most consistent and dominant fighter in the game.
There is something about that title, “Undefeated”, that sparks our imagination. Like a question not answered or mystery never solved. How can anyone stop him? His unprecedented 28-0 record is staggering, especially in this unpredictable world of MMA. Even more impressive, is the way in which he dominates his fights. It’s not just that he’s undefeated, he makes it look easy and was never really tested inside the cage.
To the casual fan, his fights look more like a schoolyard beating than a high level, professional fight. His endless cardio, intensive wrestling style and ground and pound game makes it look effortless. The way in which Khabib breaks his opponents' will and body, leaving his opponents helpless, leaves the experts baffled. There are no surprises, everyone knows what to expect and everyone has a plan, but when the cage closes no one can stop him.
Fathers Plan
Khabib didn't get to the top of the mountain by accident, he was born and destined for this life. His Father, a Wrestling guro, military sambo expert and Judo champion, has trained him since he was born. Khabib followed his path religiously, which turned him into an elite fighter by the age of 20. His father was by his side during all his fights, until he signed with the UFC.
His performance in Abu Dhabi, last year, was the first time his father was on his corner for a UFC fight. Unfortunately, that was also his last time after his recent passing. Losing such a formidable father figure is without a doubt traumatic, leaving everyone to assume the fight would be called off. Everyone besides Khabib. It's anyone’s guess what effect his loss would have but this tragedy injects real-life drama, both in and outside the cage, to what was already promising to be an epic fight.
They’ll be coming from the mountains.
To say Khabib comes from humble beginnings would be an understatement. He is pioneering a wave of fighters, invading the UFC, from one of the toughest parts of the world. "I'm from Dagestan... it's a different level for tough life. Mountain people'', he laughed as he described his upbringing. Fighting is deeply embedded within the culture and many times, the only way out of trouble for young men.
With a long wrestling and combat tradition and under these circumstances, it's easy to understand this sudden explosion of fighters from such a small region, that few have even heard of. This spartan environment, where young kids like Khabib wrestle bears for practice, is breeding different kinds of fighters. For them, it's more than just prizefighting or entertainment, it's a code of honor and way of life.
9-year-old Khabib, practicing his wrestling with a bear.
The rise of this fighting culture, with its own superstars and authenticity, has changed the fighting landscape. It's a testament for UFC’s global success but also the source of some headaches for the organization. Khabib’s fight with Mcgregor, and its aftermath, was the pinnacle of this cultural clash which catapulted him into global stardom. For Mcgregor, the antics are trash talk are all part of the show but when it comes to family and religion, it proved to be all too real for Khabib and his team.
UFC 254 -Place your bets.
As always, one man is looking to change the narrative and spoil the party. Justin Gaethje aims to do what no man has done before, finish Khabib. “In an inherently violent sport, he stands out..There’s a reckless abundance to him that is terrifying”, is how Joe Rogan describes Gaethje’s fighting style and power.
Judging from their highlight reels, you can be fooled to think it's just another classic wrestler vs striker match up. Sure, Khabib has beaten many elite strikers before however, he never faced one who grappled his entire life with this kind of wrestling credentials. That's not to say Gaethje will try to wrestle Khabib but if he could stop his barrage of takedowns, it would be enough to force Khabib into uncharted territories.
This is why so many experts and betting men picked Gaethje to give Khabib his first beating. Of course, it's hard to ignore that Deja Vu feeling whenever pundits explain (again) why this time, Khabib's opponent can succeed where everyone else failed. One thing is sure, Khabib is a problem for any fighter and until it's solved, this is the best show in the world.