Perhaps the main reason many consider Khabib Nurmagomedov to be the GOAT of MMA is the dominance that he displayed during his career. Throughout his career at the largest, most competitive mixed martial arts promotion, ‘The Eagle’ has lost only two rounds in his thirteen UFC fights.

The undefeated former lightweight champion was frighteningly good on the ground and had phenomenal grappling skills, fight IQ, and endurance to constantly stalk his opponents before inevitably taking them to the ground and proceeding to either maul them with his relentless ground-and-pound or submit them if they are lucky. Even after his retirement, his legend grows as one of his former opponent’s coach told a story about how absolutely dominant he was when fighting in an interview with comedian Jim Norton and former UFC champion Matt Serra.

Khabib Nurmagomedov talked to Edson Barboza’s coach during beatdown

In 2017, Khabib Nurmagomedov faced Edson Barboza at UFC 219 as the last step before his UFC 223 title bout the next year. The Brazilian was expected to be Nurmagomedov’s toughest matchup given his dynamic and dangerous striking.

However, contrary to expectations, Nurmagomedov was able to neutralize Barboza’s striking and punish him on the ground from the first round itself. In the end, ‘The Eagle’ won the fight comfortably via a unanimous decision.

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Barboza’s coach, Mark Henry revealed that so comfortable was Nurmagomedov, who is among the two people in the world that he fears, during the fight and so well attuned to his surroundings despite being in dangerous conditions that he started talking to him when he gave the Brazilian advice.

“I’m only scared of two human beings. One, growing up, was Mike Tyson and the other one is… Khabib, man. So, you know, seeing him, he also talked to me during the fight, too. Edson, we thought he was gonna get his back. I said ‘Bro don’t give your back’. And he just stops totally, looks right at me and goes ‘Mark, don’t worry, I won’t take his back’ like a maniac. Right in the middle of the fight,” Henry said.

While ‘Khabib’s retirement in 2020 closed the chapter on one of the greatest careers in UFC history, he has continued to be an important voice in the sport. And recently, he expressed his disappointment at the UFC’s recent matchmaking.

‘The Eagle’ thinks the matchmaking for UFC 300 makes no sense

In a recent interview with MMA Mania, Khabib Nurmagomedov said that he felt the Max Holloway vs. Justin Gaethje UFC 300 bout for the BMF title “made no sense” and had needlessly complicated the lightweight and featherlight divisions.

Joe Rogan’s Blunder Even Forced Khabib to Respond After Embarrassing Umar Nurmagomedov on Live TV in 2022

The former lightweight champion felt that Gaethje should have been matched up against the current champion and his friend, Islam Makhachev. The winner of their bout should have faced the winner of the much-awaited Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan UFC 300 clash, according to the Dagestani.

Nurmagomedov cautioned the UFC that if Holloway lost, it would deprive the new featherweight champion Ilia Topuria of a worthy opponent should the promotion decide against an immediate rematch for former champion Alexander Volkanovski.

Khabib Says Umar Will Receive Title Shot; Ex-UFC Champ Goes After Bantamweight’s Top Ranked Fighters