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VIDEO: Joe Rogan Explains Why Khabib Nurmagomedov May Not Be the Lightweight G.O.A.T. in MMA History

Published 01/15/2022, 10:00 AM EST

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Many MMA fans around the world widely consider Khabib Nurmagomedov as the best lightweight fighter in the history of the UFC. ‘The Eagle’ has one of the most dominant runs during his prime days as a fighter. The Dagestani has absolutely destroyed every opponent he’s faced in the octagon. Some of the fighters on his resume include Dustin Poirier, Conor McGregor, and Justin Gaethje.

However, in a conversation with Snoop Dogg, Joe Rogan put forth a notable point. Joe Rogan pointed out that Khabib might not be the best lightweight of all time. He backed Brazilian fighter BJ Penn as a worthy competitor for that title.

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Rogan said,” Khabib is in my opinion greatest lightweight of all time. The other argument is BJ Penn in his prime. BJ Penn in his prime was fantastic. He was so good… If u go back and watch like peak BJ Penn, he had phenomenal power, he was ruthlessly aggressive. He had great jiu-jitsu.”

Rogan added, “everyone was scared of BJ for a while. He beat Matt Hughes, he beat Matt Hughes in his prime…He was an elite grappler too.”

BJ Penn holds a professional record of 16 wins and 14 losses. Whereas, Khabib Nurmagomedov holds an outstanding professional record of 29-0.

Why did Khabib Nurmagomedov announce retirement?

‘The Eagle’ called his retirement when he was at the peak of his career. In all his fights, he has always been the more dominant fighter.

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Khabib holds his family very dear to him. He announced his retirement on account of the tragic death of his father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Abdulmanap was not only a father to Khabib, but he was also a mentor and trainer to him as well.

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‘The Eagle‘ attributes all his success to his father. After his death, Khabib made a promise to his mother that he would not fight professionally without his father in his corner.

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The Dagestani has gotten many offers to return to the UFC, but he has kept true to his promise. Dana White tried to convince him as well, but it didn’t work.

Do you think that we’ll ever see a return from Khabib? Moreover, do you think prime BJ Penn is a better lightweight fighter than Khabib? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Written by:

Pranit Punjabi

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Pranit Punjabi is a UFC author at EssentiallySports. A third-year psychology major, this Justin Gaethje fan merged his interest in psychology with his deep passion for MMA and was intrigued by this new angle to help him get closer to the action. Pranit aims to look through the violence and chaos, into what makes MMA truly beautiful, the deep and rich psychological aspect of the game.
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