WATCH: Khabib Nurmagomedov’s First Ever UFC Fight When He Wrestled His Opponent Into Submission

Published 01/25/2022, 10:30 AM EST

Many people consider Khabib Nurmagomedov the UFC lightweight G.O.A.T. While that is up for discussion, no one can deny that Nurmagomedov had an incredible UFC career.

Now, though, the Dagestani fighter has retired and has taken larger responsibilities of helping his teammates, as well as running his own promotion.

"23-year-old Khabib Nurmagomedov is seen by fight game insiders to have a bright future in the sport."
10 years ago @TeamKhabib made his UFC debut and embarked on his incredible journey in the Octagon.pic.twitter.com/cKZGiUnS92
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) January 20, 2022

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However, Nurmagomedov’s fans certainly love to look back at his previous fights. ‘The Eagle’ made his UFC debut back in 2012. He faced Kamal Shalorus and won through a submission. This fight was also the first time he fought in the cage.

The fight took place in Nashville, Tennessee, and was Khabib’s first fight in the United States. Shalorus looked great in the fight. However, after Khabib landed a left punch on Shalorus’ face, he engaged in a vicious ground and pound. As a result, the Iranian fighter tried his best to defend himself. However, Khabib’s wrestling made sure that he was on the ground for as long as possible.

Shalorus even managed to get back on his feet, but ‘The Eagle’ made sure to get the fight on the ground again. He held the Iranian in a rear-naked choke and forced him to tap. The Russian fighter, thus, won his first UFC fight in a spectacular fashion.

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Khabib Nurmagomedov: MMA career

Nurmagomedov has had an extremely eventful MMA career. He fought for several promotions before joining the UFC. At the UFC, he faced some top opponents, like Rafael dos Anjos and Edson Barboza. However, his fans remember his title defense fights the most.

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In 2018, Khabib defeated Al Iaquinta and became the lightweight champion. He then went on to defend his title against big names like Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje. The athlete eventually retired with a perfect 29-0-0 record.

Many fans would have ideally loved to see him face Tony Ferguson in the octagon. His rivalry with Ferguson was huge. However, their bout got canceled five times. The MMA fans all around the world lost out on an epic battle.

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What do you think about Khabib Nurmagomedov’s first UFC fight? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Rohini Kottu is a UFC Writer at EssentiallySports. She is also a Psychologist and has a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology. Rohini, in her role as a UFC writer, combines her admiration for the mental resilience that MMA fighters have and her love for analysis.

WATCH: Khabib Nurmagomedov’s First Ever UFC Fight When He Wrestled His Opponent Into Submission

Khabib Nurmagomedov: MMA career

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