MMA attire has undergone a dramatic transformation over the years, evolving from a mix of personalized gear to a standardized and highly specialized look. Remember UFC 1? The event that started it all. One of the most distinct features of the show was the stylistic matchups and how each discipline subscribed to a unique set of attire. Let it be Royce Gracie and his white gi or Ken Shamrock and his trademark red shorts. However, as the sport grew into a mainstream sport, the UFC brought a change in the way their fighters looked. If we go back to the mid-2000s, fighters mostly opted for funky Affliction-themed T-shirts with over-the-top graphics.

By the late 2010s, this started to change slowly when the UFC announced its game-changing, six-year deal with Reebok in 2015. They started to provide all fight gear, including fight kits, training apparel, and footwear for the fighters. The partnership introduced a uniform system, replacing fighters’ ability to wear independent sponsors inside the Octagon. While most of the fighters made peace with it, Khabib Nurmagomedov still found a way to show his loyalty here as well. Coach Javier Mendez shared an incident from the past that shows how loyal the former champion is to the people close to him.

The AKA head coach took to his Instagram account and shared a message. He wrote, “This is probably the most iconic mma piece of fight gear ever 🦅This Everlast headgear that I gifted to the greatest @khabib_nurmagomedov 🦅in 2012 He would never use any other headgear that even when UFC changed to Reebok that he had a Reebok sticker placed over the Everlast logo. Loyalty is what the 🦅 is all about and even his Headgear was part of that loyalty. @americankickboxingacademy @ufc @nurmagomedov_mma_school Fathers Plan🦅🦅#loyaty #loyatyiseverything”. 

Nurmagomedov also shared the post on his story with a caption that read, “You don’t change a horse at the crossing.” Indeed, only a fighter like Khabib can challenge the company norms to keep hold of something that he received as a gift, as a token of appreciation.

Now, the former champion has taken on a mentorship role himself, guiding young Dagestani fighters while maintaining his close relationship with Mendez. Their bond has left a lasting impact on the sport, proving that MMA is about more than just wins and losses—it’s about respect, loyalty, and the relationships built along the way.

However, ‘Team Khabib’ is currently under a lot of pressure from Ilia Topuria for a lightweight title fight. Many experts have come forward and shared their opinions on the whole. But what does the Hall of Famer think?

Khabib Nurmagomedov weighs in on Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev

Ilia Topuria has been on an unstoppable rise, especially after dismantling Max Holloway last year in a dominant fashion. Now after giving up his featherweight title, ‘El Matador’ has his eyes set on a second belt. The 28-year-old’s next target? Well the champion himself, Islam Makhachev. The back-and-forth hasn’t gone unnoticed, drawing strong reactions from members of Team Khabib, further intensifying the tension between the two divisions.

However, Nurmagomedov has given the Spanish-Georgian juggernaut a blueprint for a title shot. During an episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, ‘The Eagle’ appreciated Topuria for showcasing his talent at the highest level. But the former champion feels that the 155-pound division is a new challenge and he first needs to prove himself here.

While speaking on the show he said, “I think if you move up and beat somebody like Dustin Poirier or Charles Oliveira, then he’s next in line. Why not? Because there’s nobody else.” Well, it now be interesting to see how the fights in the division line up. Not only Topuria but rather many fighters are waiting in the ranks to get a title shot.

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How do you feel about Khabib Nurmagomedov’s decision to keep training in his old attire? Share your thoughts in the comments below!