For many, former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was the best fighter in UFC. For others, however, ‘The Eagle’ retired early and saved himself from potentially suffering a loss. That’s despite the utter dominance he showed during his run in the promotion. Former bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey had similar feelings about Khabib’s run in UFC, something she didn’t shy away from expressing during a recent podcast. 

“I think the only reason why MMA fans have their lips so firmly planted at the base of Khabib’s c—k is because he retired before he reached his limit,” Rousey said during a podcast with comedian Bert Kreischer. “If he kept fighting until he reached his limit, everybody would be ‘Khabib ain’t shit, he never was s—t’.” Now, Khabib’s mentee, Islam Makhachev, has shared his take on Rousey’s comments about Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Islam Makhachev claims Nurmagomedov could have fought for many more years

Speaking to Makhachev, Matthew Welty of Complex News brought up Rousey’s statement, highlighting that she felt Khabib is not the “GOAT.” “No, it’s not true, man,” Makhachev said confidently, as he rejected Rousey’s argument about Nurmagomedov’s GOAT status. “Khabib is a great person. Who really knows Khabib, who [are] close with him, they know him [and] what he did for the people, for his family, for like everybody who [are] around him.”

The former lightweight champion also claimed that Khabib could have continued fighting had it not been for his mother. “[He’s a] great guy. And he can compete, he can beat like… he can fight many years more, but he listened [to] his mother and that’s it.” Makhachev added. Notably, Khabib retired after UFC 254 to honor a promise to his mother, following his father’s death from COVID-19. He vowed to stop fighting without his father in his corner.

Since retiring in 2020, Khabib has coached at Eagles MMA, cornering Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov to UFC titles. And Makhachev appreciates what his mentor has done for him and the entire team. “We need him to coach now. He’s a coach, our coach now, and more than he becomes a fighter. Now we need him in the gym,” Makhachev said during the interview. Their partnership is set to be on full display this Saturday night.

The 34-year-old is slated to make his welterweight debut against Jack Della Maddalena at Madison Square Garden at UFC 322. If Makhachev wins, he will become a two-weight champion, surpassing even Khabib Nurmagomedov, who won a title in just one weight class. Regardless, it’s not just Makhachev who has defended Khabib against Rousey’s rowdy comments. 

Manager claims Ronda Rousey is jealous of Khabib Nurmagomedov

Nurmagomedov’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, didn’t hold back after hearing Ronda Rousey’s recent remarks about the undefeated UFC legend. Speaking on Submission Radio, Abdelaziz dismissed her comments outright. “It’s jealousy,” he said, asserting that Rousey’s criticisms come from a place of frustration rather than truth.

He acknowledged Rousey’s accomplishments but quickly drew a sharp line. “Ronda… when she was champion, she was a great athlete, and she beat the girls that were not athletic, but when she met Amanda, she lost,” he stated. According to him, “She can’t compare herself to Khabib. She’s not like a GOAT, she’s just unhappy.”

Abdelaziz also challenged her to prove otherwise, saying, “If you think you’re better than Khabib, you should come back. Kayla Harrison, your old friend, I’m sure will be very happy to open the door and give you an a— whooping.” He ended with a firm message. “She should never talk about Khabib like that because Khabib never talk about nobody.”

Despite what Ronda Rousey seems to think about Khabib Nurmagomedov, the latter’s team is firmly behind the Dagestani fighter and his legacy in the UFC. But what do you think? Do you agree with Makhachev and Abdelaziz? Or was Rousey correct?