UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov disagrees with his own manager's assessment that he would have beaten middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.
The former lightweight champion infamously used to cut around 50lb to make 155lb for his world title fights, and has sported a more full figure sine retiring in 2020. And many feel that if he were to ever make a comeback, it likely could no longer be at lightweight, and he would likely also have to bypass welterweight.
This led his manager Ali Abdelaziz, the controversial Dominance MMA boss, to declare recently that Nurmagomedov would have beaten Adesanya if the pair were to fight. However, the Russian disputes this, saying that it would never have happened that he would compete at such a heavy division, despite having often sparred with light-heavyweights in the gym.
“I’m not going to fight at 185," he assured Main Event. "I’m not going to fight with him, it’s like, right now this is his time. Don’t try to take his greatness. How many years as middleweight champion? Three? Four? I think he deserves some respect.
"Don’t treat him like this, like some lightweight can beat him easily. If we grapple, we can grapple, like in the gym like I did with all these heavyweights, light heavyweights, middleweights, but going to fight and talking about ‘oh I can smash him’, I didn’t say this. People talk about this, I don’t agree with this.”
Nurmagomedov was speaking around his Hall of Fame induction, where he was honoured for his years of dominance in the sport. He rarely lost even a round during his run to the top of the lightweight division before abruptly retiring in 2020 at his mother's request.
A number of efforts were made by the UFC to get him to turn back on his decision, and Floyd Mayweather even made him a $100million boxing offer. But the Russian ultimately stuck to his plan and was honoured this week with an induction into the promotion's Hall of Fame.
Who do you think wins; Khabib Nurmagomedov or Israel Adesanya? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
His manager Abdelaziz had perviously said he believed Nurmagomedov would win. He told Sherdog: "Khabib now weighs 200 pounds. If Khabib comes tomorrow and cuts to 185, he would stop Israel Adesanya in three rounds.
"I see it. He beats heavyweights, light heavyweights, welterweights, lightweights – he’s unstoppable now. He’s like a tractor trailer. If Khabib wants to come back and talks with Dana White and says, ‘Let me fight at middleweight,’ he will finish Israel in three rounds.
"It's because the style of fights. Israel can’t stop his wrestling. He can’t stop his grappling. But striking, of course, Israel is the best striker on this planet.”
Adesanya will be focused on Jared Cannonier tonight when he goes for his fifth title defence at UFC 267. He will be favoured to win against the No.2 contender due to his impressive striking.
