SUMMARY
- Despite an undefeated 29-0 record and dominant UFC reign, Khabib Nurmagomedov again faces criticism for allegedly 'padding' his early career against less skilled opponents.
- Khabib's dominance sparks debates on his striking abilities, wins against top fighters like Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier face scrutiny.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is often considered to be one of the best mixed martial artists ever. Following his rise to fame after winning the UFC lightweight title, Khabib left behind a legacy to marvel at. However, as time has passed, his accomplishments have come under scrutiny by many.
For those unaware, “The Eagle” etched his name into record books when he departed from the sport with an unblemished 29-0 record. In what was an extremely fruitful tenure, the Dagestani fighter captured the lightweight title and made three consecutive defenses against the best possible opposition. Thus, when he retired, Khabib was hailed as one of the GOATs.
Notably, years on from his departure, Khabib’s record and accomplishments still haven’t sat well with many. Whilst some fighters are expected to have their qualms about it, fans have also done their share of research. Recently, a user went viral for looking through some of Khabib’s opponents before the UFC. Interestingly, most fighters were either 0-1, 0-2 or worse. Except for a few rare opponents, most had more losses than wins to their names.
Thus, Khabib has often been accused of ‘padding’ his record up until he got to the UFC. With that said, the 35-year-old went on a tremendous run, beating some of the best lightweight on the planet after that. Having names such as Rafael Dos Anjos, Edson Barboza, Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje on his resume, speaks volumes about his ability.
Conor McGregor has disputed Khabib Nurmagomedov’s record
At the same time, there have been counter-arguments suggesting that Khabib’s dominance was questionable. For one, many feel that the Dagestani was one of the worst strikers in his division. On the other hand, his wrestling and grappling prowess was unprecedented and impossible to deal with. Thus, many have attributed his new style as a reason for fighters not being able to adapt to him.
Similarly, his wins against the likes of Conor, Dustin, and Justin have seen a lot of criticism. Having submitted all three of his opponents, many feel that Nurmagomedov was only able to impose his will against strikers. Since there is no proof of how he would fare against someone with a similar skill set, there a a lot of questions regarding his record.
Initially, it was Conor McGregor who first shed light on Khabib’s ‘suspicious’ record in the sport. Speaking to Stephen A. Smith ahead of UFC 264, McGregor said, ” F***all he has done in the sport. He was 13-0 fighting guys 3 wins and 6 losses. It was his father’s shows. His father had the shows set up. He was fighting blatant guys with 2 wins and 8 losses and that’s his record until he’s 20-0″. Having suffered a bitter loss, McGregor has often criticized the Russian for ‘running away’ from the rematch.
Over the years, the two have had heated instances in the lead-up to and after their UFC 229 encounter. Notably, there is the infamous bus incident and their post-fight brawl that come to mind. Personal vendetta aside, many have since echoed what “The Notorious One” said, questioning his greatness in the sport. All things considered, Khabib’s legacy as one of the best to ever grace the sport will always be solidified. At the end of the day, he is still held in high regard by many fans and fighters around the globe.