Khabib Nurmagomedov and his accomplishments inside the Octagon have made him a legendary figure in the sport. He made his UFC debut in 2012 and became the UFC lightweight champion without losing a single fight on the way! He claimed a win against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 to secure an incredible 29-0 record in MMA. And he walked away from the sport as an undefeated champion. Nurmagomedov later explained that his retirement after the fight was influenced by the passing of his father and a promise he made to his mother.

After his retirement from the sport as a fighter, Nurmagomedov launched his own MMA organization, Eagle FC. And he has been present in the corner of his teammates during their fights as well. Islam Makhachev, Nurmagomedov’s childhood friend and training partner, recently revealed what he thinks about ‘The Eagle’ making a possible comeback. As he prepares for his rematch with Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294, Makhachev has made a bold claim in response to the question of Nurmagomedov’s return!

Khabib Nurmagomedov can take on UFC middleweights claims Islam Makhachev

Khabib Nurmagomedov, with his impeccable 29-0 record, left his mark on the world of combat sports. His fights were marked by sheer dominance and a smothering fighting style. The Dagestani fighter had a unique charisma that fascinated an entire generation of MMA enthusiasts.

The back-and-forth banter with Conor McGregor before their UFC 229 bout made it one of the most-watched PPV events ever. But despite McGregor’s taunts, Nurmagomedov secured a 4th-round victory via submission. The post-fight chaos, involving Nurmagomedov jumping out of the cage and engaging in a brawl with McGregor’s team, is still one of the most talked about events in UFC history.

Now, as Islam Makhachev gears up to defend his lightweight title against Alexander Volkanovski, he has made it clear that ‘The Eagle’ can still make a return if he wishes to. In an Instagram post, Makhachev posted the following statement: “Today I was asked in one of the interviews: ‘Can Khabib come back and beat Strickland in the championship fight? I can say with confidence that he would easily do it. Almost three years have passed since Khabib finished his career, but he never misses a workout. And I can say with confidence: If he wants, it won’t be difficult for him.”

Makhachev and Volkanovski are set to face each other once more at UFC 294. Charles Oliveira, was originally set to face the Dagestani fighter, but had to step away from the fight due to an injury sustained while training. Volkanovski took the fight on short notice and is aiming to become double-champion once more after losing a controversial decision to Makhachev at UFC 284. However, Khabib Nurmagomedov has recently revealed that he thinks the change of opponents is actually a good thing!

Nurmagomedov believes that Makhachev is ready to face anyone

Speaking in the first episode of the UFC 294 Embedded: Vlog Series, Khabib Nurmagomedov expressed his thoughts on Makhachev’s preparation. He dispelled concerns about the late addition of Volkanovski affecting Makhachev negatively. In fact, he believes that this change has only added to Makhachev’s motivation.

Khabib revealed, “Volkanovski is different than Charles Oliveira. So, yeah, we’re gonna change some things, but goal is the same. Same goal, same place. But I think Islam have more motivation… Islam is a warrior.”

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Although Volkanovski presents a different challenge than Charles Oliveira, the goal remains the same. According to Khabib, Makhachev has even more motivation now. And he emphasized Makhachev’s warrior spirit and intense determination when he steps into the cage. The fight will undoubtedly be a thrilling encounter, and fans can expect both fighters to give their all in the octagon!

Do you think Khabib Nurmagomedov will return to the Octagon in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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