No one knows Saygid Izagakhmaev better than his mentor and training partner, MMA legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.

The Dagestani fighter returns for his third promotional appearance against former ONE Lightweight World Champion Shinya “Tobikan Judan” Aoki at ONE 163: Akimoto vs. Petchtanong, which broadcasts live this Saturday, November 19 from the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

In January, the Eagles MMA representative submitted former ONE Welterweight World Title challenger James Nakashima in his debut, and he returned eight months later to outclass Chinese star Zhang Lipeng over three rounds en route to a unanimous decision triumph.

Khabib Nurmagomedov puts his money on Saygid Izagakhmaev

Nurmagomedov kept a close eye on both performances and is confident that the #4-ranked lightweight contender is destined for greatness.

“There’s a very good chance that early next year, in the first half of 2023, Saygid will fight for the title because he already has two wins in the promotion and he has a fight ahead of him against a very big star in the world of MMA, Shinya Aoki,” he asserted.

“If Saygid knocks him out or finishes him on the ground, I think he should have [the] next fight for the title.”

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Since Izagakhmaev turned professional in July 2012, Nurmagomedov has seen immense improvements in his arsenal. Among the areas that the lightweight star has developed are his sambo, wrestling, and striking.

Khabib Nurmagomedov lauds Saygid Izagakhmaev’s improvements

Nurmagomedov is confident that his “brother” and training partner has continued to improve since he inked a deal with ONE late last year, and he believes there is no lightweight fighter that can match him toe-to-toe inside the Circle.

“I’ve been training with Sagid my whole life. I know how much he improves every year. I know how dedicated he is,” the lightweight megastar said.

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“He’s getting physically stronger and stronger. He’s getting more and more experienced from fight to fight, and soon, he’s going to be the best – not only in our team but in the world. I have a lot of faith in him.”

Whether or not Nurmagomedov’s prediction comes true remains to be seen. But if Izagakhmaev can continue to turn heads with his blend of high-intensity grappling and striking power, there is every reason to believe that the Russian can go on to become the next lightweight king in ONE.