Khabib Nurmagomedov, one of the most dominant UFC fighters, came from the mountains of Russia. ‘The Eagle’ was born and brought up in the village of Sildi in the Tsumadinsky District of the Dagestan ASSR, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union. However, Jenna Johnson, a famous American dancer, thought otherwise.

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In an interview at the Monster Energy $50K Charity Challenge Celebrity Basketball Game at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion on July 08, 2019, in Westwood, California, when asked about her favorite boxer, Johnson had Khabib in her mind. But she couldn’t remember his name.

Later, the interviewer suggested a few names, including Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz. Then, while pointing out Nurmagomedov’s win over McGregor, Johnson replied, “I don’t know if he is a boxer, but… I know Conor, the Ukrainian one that beat him, or he’s not Ukrainian. Oh no, it’s so bad. Khabib, yeah! He is amazing. I know he is not a boxer.”

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‘The Eagle’ from a very young age trained MMA under his father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Later, he turned professional in 2008, and with a perfect record of 16-0 Nurmagomedov entered the UFC.

The Dagestan native had an impressive record in the promotion. He defeated some of the most prominent names and also reigned the lightweight division for over two years. However, he retired from professional fighting after his third successful title defense in 2020.

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What is Khabib Nurmagomedov doing now?

The main reason ‘The Eagle’ retired from professional fighting is because of the death of his father/coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. The latter also used to train other fighters, including Islam Makhachev, Shamil Zavurov, and more.

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Khabib Nurmagomedov

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However, after his father’s demise, Khabib took his torch and is guiding his teammates for their respective MMA careers. Also, ‘The Eagle’ is earning a fortune through his business ventures outside of fighting.

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Furthermore, Nurmagomedov has bought his own MMA venture and named it after his moniker, the Eagle FC. The promotion has had a few successful events in the USA and has also signed notable names from the MMA world. All in all, retirement has been good so far for the UFC legend.

What are your thoughts on Johnson mistaking Nurmagomedov as Ukrainian? Write us in the comments section below.

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Afnan Chougle

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Afnan Chougle is a UFC author at EssentiallySports. Besides writing, this Media graduate is an integral part of the digital web stories team for combat sports. Before joining EssentiallySports, Afnan gained valuable experience as an intern at Jiostudios Production House. He uses his experience and passion to further his professional career and provide unique insight into all things UFC and combat sports. A Khabib Nurmagomedov fan, Afnan, has religiously followed MMA ever since UFC 229. Other than 'The Eagle' he adores Muhammad Ali. Furthermore, he is a fan of Joe Rogan and seldom misses an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience. Apart from his professional exploits as a UFC journalist, Afnan enjoys catching Hotboxin' episodes, honing his skills as an amateur actor and loves going on occasional treks.

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Vibhanshu Kumar