At UFC 254, Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Justin Gaethje and laid his gloves down on the canvas to announce his retirement. It’s been five years since then, and UFC fans have been on the lookout for someone who could truly mirror him. While Islam Makhachev has carried his mentor’s legacy in the lightweight division, his personality and fighting style are distinctly different from his mentor’s. However, that long search might finally come to an end at the upcoming UFC Qatar. 

On November 22, Arman Tsarukyan and Dan Hooker will end their year-long layoff to headline a UFC Fight Night event at the Ali Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah Arena in Qatar. While the main event is expected to steal most of the spotlight, the prelims won’t go unnoticed either. The reason? Saygid Izagakhmaev, who is often dubbed Khabib’s clone, is all set to make his UFC debut against Nicolas Dalby in a welterweight showdown.  

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s clone is all set to make UFC debut 

Popular MMA social media account, Spinning Backfist, posted on X, “Saygid Izagakhmaev has been signed by the UFC. He is a part of Team Khabib. He will fight Nicolas Dalby at UFC Qatar.”  

For the unversed, the 31-year-old has been part of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s camp for over 15 years, spending his entire life training alongside his Dagestani brothers. Before joining the UFC, the Russian competed across various MMA organizations and built an impressive 22-2 record. Unlike Khabib, Izagakhmaev isn’t undefeated. But that’s not what makes him the spitting image of ‘The Eagle’. What truly earned him the tag of being the lightweight legend’s clone was a particular moment that perfectly captured his mentor’s spirit. 

During his ONE FC fight against Shinya Aoki, Izagakhmaev shouted, “I’ll smash you. I’m the next champion at lightweight. Lightweight ONE FC,” while landing heavy ground-and-pound shots against the cage. For UFC fans, it was a clear throwback to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s moment at UFC 205, when he told Michael Johnson, “You have to give up. I need to fight for the title,” while smashing Johnson against the fence. Because of that eerily similar scene, many now see Izagakhmaev as the true spitting image of Khabib. 

That’s definitely an exciting similarity between the two. However, after his last ONE FC fight, Izagakhmaev has been out of action for nearly two years. Now, he’s set to step back into the octagon against a tough opponent at UFC Qatar. Soon enough, we’ll find out whether the Russian fighter can actually deliver that same domination or not. But before he makes that walk, let’s see what ‘The Eagle’ himself has to say about his longtime teammate. 

‘The Eagle’ believes Saygid Izagakhmaev would be the best 

For most fans, Saygid Izagakhmaev’s arrival in the UFC might seem sudden. But about a month ago, the Russian posted a photo with Dana White, captioned, “Officially, from this day on, there is a new captain on the ship.” Any fans who saw that post had a pretty good idea that his UFC debut was just around the corner. And as destiny would have it, Khabib Nurmagomedov had nothing but praise for his team member.  

According to a BloodyElbow article, Khabib told ONE FC, before his final fight, “I’ve been training with Saygid my whole life. I know how much he improves every year. I know how dedicated he is. 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.” 

Although the Russian doesn’t have an undefeated record, competing in ONE FC, the same promotion where former UFC champ Demetrious Johnson made his mark, is no easy feat. On top of that, Saygid’s 22-2 record, with 12 submission wins and 4 knockouts, is nothing short of impressive. Now, all eyes will be on what he brings to the cage at UFC Qatar, an event already stacked with a heated headliner. So, can he make a statement right from his debut?

That said, do you believe Saygid Izagakhmaev can truly replicate what Khabib Nurmagomedov achieved in the UFC? Let us know in the comments below.