“Khabib Nurmagomedov Back in the Day”: After Taking Aim at Champ Islam Makhachev in Fearless Call Out, Lightweight Star Compared to Dagestani Legend by UFC Hofer

UFC Vegas 76 delivered a night of thrilling action that exceeded every fight fan’s expectations. Among the captivating bouts that had the audience at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, and around the globe on the edge of their seats was the co-main event showdown between Grant Dawson and Damir Ismagulov. In an intense three-rounder, Dawson emerged victorious over his Russian opponent, securing a unanimous decision.

Following his impressive win, the 29-year-old fighter wasted no time in making his intentions clear as Dawson boldly claimed that he is the ‘replacement’ of the reigning UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev. The significance of Dawson’s achievements has not gone unnoticed. Comparing the rising star to the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov, a UFC legend further solidified Dawson’s growing reputation.

Grant Dawson gets a ‘Khabib Nurmagomedov’ compliment

Recently, the UFC Hall of Famer and former Middleweight champ Michael Bisping took to YouTube to reflect on the thrilling UFC event that took place in Las Vegas. As he delved into the Grant Dawson vs. Ismagulov matchup, the former UFC middleweight champion couldn’t help but shower the 29-year-old victor with high praise for his outstanding performance.

Bisping confidently declared, “I’m telling you, Grant Dawson is a problem. Grant Dawson, he wanted everyone to say, ‘Man, that kid is good!’ I am telling you, man, that kid could potentially be a champion one day.”

Bisping went on to discuss Dawson’s dominant wrestling style, acknowledging that while it may not always lead to the most entertaining bouts, it showcased pure dominance in this case. Drawing parallels to the early days of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Bisping remarked, “Think about Khabib Nurmagomedov back in the day. He wasn’t finishing everyone to start. If Grant Dawson can just kind of get the finishes going, then I can tell you the man could be a superstar.”

However, it’s not only the UFC world that recognizes Grant Dawson’s talent and potential. The Wisconsin native himself expressed his satisfaction with the result and demonstrated respect for his opponent.

Grant Dawson is also humble in victory!

During the post-fight interview, Dawson opened up about his performance and credited Damir Ismagulov for being a formidable adversary. The 29-year-old said, “I am my harshest critic, but you can’t be upset with a win against a guy like Damir.”

He further added, “It wasn’t about the performance. If you can get over a guy like Damir, that’s something to be proud of. That guy is not ranked No. 12 in the world. He’s so much better than that. They just put him at 12 for some weird reason. So, I’m very, very happy with it. The 30-27, 30-27, 30-26. I’m happy with it.”

Read More: “You’re Getting Paid to Give Children Diabetes”: Khabib Nurmagomedov at Sword’s Point as Fans Accuse Him of ‘Selling His Soul’ for His New Endorsement

With a record of 20-1-1, Grant Dawson certainly holds tremendous promise. What are your thoughts on Grant Dawson and his latest performance? Let us know in the comments below.

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