Khabib Nurmagomedov doesn’t suppose very extremely of the general high quality of Irish fighters in MMA.
Forward of his cousin Usman Nurmagomedov’s (18-0) light-weight title protection towards Paul Hughes (13-1) at Bellator Champions Sequence: Highway to Dubai on Jan. 25, UFC Corridor of Famer Khabib shouldn’t be thinking about a dialogue in regards to the impression of athletes from Eire in comparison with his native Dagestan.
The largest rivalry within the historical past of MMA got here between Khabib, from Dagestan, and Eire’s Conor McGregor. The matchup between Usman and Hughes is being touted as the subsequent chapter within the feud between areas.
Khabib, nonetheless, mentioned it’s a silly comparability. He sees solely two robust Irish representatives within the sport with Hughes and McGregor (though Ian Machado Garry is value mentioning), and mentioned it pales to the energy from his a part of the world.
“Eire don’t have fighters, brother,” Nurmagomedov mentioned in an interview with PFL. “Let’s be trustworthy: What number of fighters from Eire? Paul Hughes and Conor. Who else? There isn’t a fighters, brother. You come to Dagestan, you’ll be able to perceive. So many organizations, they don’t even wish to signal Dagestan fighters as a result of they fear about like, all people can turn out to be champion.”
Within the aftermath of his MMA retirement in 2020, Khabib has advanced into one of many distinguished coaches in MMA behind his cousins Usman and Umar, his childhood mates Islam Makhachev and Gadzhi Rabadanov, plus many extra. He works first hand with the perfect from Dagestan, so he minced no phrases on how the fighters round him stack as much as these from Eire.
“Let’s be trustworthy: Dagestan stage of MMA right here (up excessive),” Nurmagomedov mentioned. “However Eire stage, like not even half of Dagestan stage.”
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