UFC lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, spoke to ‘Bald Predator’ on YouTube and did a deep dive into his last fight. ‘The Eagle’ defended his gold strap against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi before announcing his retirement. Nurmagomedov submitted the interim champion via Triangle choke in Round 2 and definitively etched his 29th professional career victory.

Despite the dominant win, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s road to the cage in Abu Dhabi’s Flash Forum wasn’t an easy one. Following the emphatic submission victory, it emerged that Nurmagomedov fought with a broken foot and came into the bout on the back of several ailments. Chiefly, this news went on to further elevate his stock as he managed to come out on top over a prime Gaethje.

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Khabib Nurmagomedov details his weight cut before UFC 254

The compromised foot wasn’t the only liability that the Russian champion came into prior to the bout. Nurmagomedov candidly spoke out on his weight cut that fortunately turned out to be the sole reason he could perform well. Given his other health concerns, a botched weight cut would have meant the fight might not have happened.

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“I just went in there and that’s it. My weight cutting was good, one of the best. The best was in another fight. This one was also difficult but one of the bests and I have recovered very good. I’ve gained about 10 kg. At the weigh-ins I was 70 kg and for the fight day I was almost 80 kgs… I felt very good.”

‘The Eagle’: Hall of Famer waiting in the wings

In the past, Khabib Nurmagomedov has had trouble cutting weight, and this was evident through his early UFC run. However, as he fit into his role as a champion, ‘The Eagle’ began to streamline certain aspects of his training and preparation. It’s unclear whether the weight gain significantly improved his performance, however, the results speak for themselves.

The 29-0 P4P great has etched a legacy that is set in stone. Additionally, a massive gap has been between himself and his competition. He’s set to retire from the sport and make his mark, attempting to bring more Russian talent to the forefront.