UFC megastar Khabib Nurmagomedov has garnered a massive fanbase over the years by showcasing high-level skills inside the UFC’s cage. ‘The Eagle’ has held the roost as arguably one of the most dominant to fight in MMA, period. Going undefeated in 29 fights has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest fighters the sport has ever seen.
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While the Dagestani mauler has legions of fans behind him, a 14-year-old California native is perhaps his biggest fan. Kylie Meade is a superfan in every sense of the word, and her dedicated Instagram page ‘Mini Khabib’ is a testament to that. Chiefly, Meade revealed that it was Khabib’s 2016 demolition of Michael Johnson that turned her into a Khabib Nurmagomedov fan.
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However, like many, Kylie’s favorite performance from ‘The Eagle’ came out in 2018 at UFC 229 when he faced Conor McGregor. The aforementioned match-up sticks out to this day as a highlight victory by ‘The Eagle’. He was able to dispatch the Irishman by neck crank in round 4 after a storied rivalry.
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LAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 06: (R-L) Khabib Nurmagomedov of Russia attempts to submit Conor McGregor of Ireland in their UFC lightweight championship bout during the UFC 229 event inside T-Mobile Arena on October 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Khabib Nurmagomedov: Bonafide star
The Russian champion who recently retired has left behind a legacy that will seemingly not be undone soon. He stepped away from active competition after submitting yet another former (interim) champion in Justin Gaethje UFC 254. His departure from the sport came at a time when fans felt he was in the prime of his career.
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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – OCTOBER 25: (R-L) Khabib Nurmagomedov of Russia takes down Justin Gaethje in their lightweight title bout during the UFC 254 event on October 25, 2020 on UFC Fight Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
With back-to-back submission wins over lightweights like McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Gaethje, there was a clear gap between him and his competition. Moreover, his goal of reaching 30-0 is upon him, and facing legend Georges St-Pierre in his final bout would be legacy-defining.
Although Khabib seems content in retirement at the moment, the UFC President Dana White believes that his competitive spirit will lure him back. He has been on record to predict that Khabib Nurmagomedov will make his return to the UFC.
There’s no doubt that super fans like Kylie Meade will be longing to see Khabib back inside the octagon once more.