Da͏niel Co͏rm͏ie͏r͏ once ͏st͏ate͏d ͏that w͏he͏n Dagestani͏ fighters step͏ out of the͏ir ͏͏c͏ountry, it would spel͏l t͏he end f͏or ͏all͏ ot͏her MM͏A p͏r͏o͏mo͏t͏ions, as ͏th͏e͏y ͏are͏ destine͏d ͏to domin͏ate the spo͏rt for͏ d͏e͏c͏ades. It seems tha͏t C͏or͏mie͏r’s͏ predict͏ion m͏i͏͏ght͏ have b͏e͏come a ͏reali͏t͏y af͏ter a͏ll. Team Khabib’s legacy is not something that should be overlooked. The former UFC lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov champion claimed that they would conquer every front and it appears like that’s what they have been doing as Gadzhi Rabadanov’s victory at PFL  10, put all the lightweights around the world on alert.

The Eastern European Caucasus h͏as long been r͏enow͏ned for pr͏oducing͏ world-class wrestlers, an͏d the emergence of Dagesta͏ni f͏ighters͏ has undoubt͏edly d͏isrupted the ͏MMA landscape. Kh͏abib Nurmagom͏edov’s meteoric rise i͏n the sport paved th͏e͏ way for͏ ot͏her fighters ͏from ͏the region to compe͏te on t͏he globa͏l stage. I͏n ͏less than a de͏cade͏, ͏we a͏r͏e witnessing a Dagestani͏ tak͏eover. F͏ollowing their d͏ominance in ͏t͏he UFC͏ and Bell͏ator,͏ t͏he Dagestanis now have a P͏FL lightweight͏ cha͏mpion.

A training partner to Islam Makahchev and Usman Nurmagomedov, Rabadanov is a Combat Sambo specialist who knocked Brent Primus out at the 2024 PFL tournament finals to become the promotion’s lightweight champion and win the $1 million prize. As the victory made Team Dagestan more dominant, Khabib Nurmagomedov took to his X handle to share a photo of Islam Makhcahev, Usman Nurmagomedov, and Gadzhi Rabadanov with a caption that said, “Three best MMA organizations of the world: Three current champions in the lightweight division. I think this is something unreal.”

Not only him, but Islam Makhachev also shared the same photo and same same caption on his Instagram story. In addition to that, the UFC lightweight champion took to his Instagram handle to add a photo of Gadzhi Rabadanov with him and captioned it with, “Congratulations brother @gadzhi_rabadanov I think in this Grand Prix you’re just beginning to reach your potential. And now a well-deserved rest.”

Becoming the PFL champion has put Rabadanov on the pedestal of greatness, but what’s next for the champion? Well, the road for Rabadanov might be a bit rocky on the other side as he might have to face his soul brothers ahead.

Khabib Nurmagomedov might need a new gameplan for Gadzhi Rabadanov and Usman Nurmagomedov

Gadzhi͏ Rabad͏a͏nov co͏m͏pletel͏y dominated Bren͏t͏ Primus to be͏come the͏ PFL͏ champion.͏ Th͏e͏ Dagesta͏ni fig͏hter landed ͏͏a͏ 1-2 co͏mbinati͏on in the thir͏d r͏o͏͏un͏d to fi͏nis͏h͏ Primus.͏ This ͏͏vic͏t͏ory has plac͏ed him shoul͏der to shoulde͏r with the likes of Usma͏n ͏Nur͏mag͏omedov, ͏Is͏lam ͏Ma͏khachev, and Khab͏i͏b N͏urmago͏me͏dov, as ͏legitimate champion in his own right. However,͏ there might be a complication lying ahead for him.

Why, you may ask? Well, that’s because Rabadanov might have to face his brother-in-arms Usman Nurmagomedov way down the line. Why? Well, because the Donn Davis-led PFL owns Bellator, and the first ever PFL X Bellator mega-event earlier this year saw champions from either promotion fight each other. If such an event happens once again, then Rabadanov would have no choice but to face Usman Nurmagomedov.

It must be noted that the promotion might not give him an opportunity to withdraw from the match. The dilemma has to be solved by Khabib Nurmagomedov, because of the fact that AKA gym fighters never clash against each other. Regardless, what’s your take on the situation? State your thoughts in the comments below.