Khabib Nurmagomedov
Twenty-nine fights, twenty-nine wins, then he walked away
- Born
- September 20, 1988, Sildi, Dagestan ASSR, Soviet Union
- Nationality
Russia- Height
- 178 cm (5′10″)
- Reach
- 178 cm (5′10″)
- Stance
- Orthodox
- Style
- Relentless chain wrestler
- Weight
- Lightweight, Welterweight
- Active
- 2008–2020
- Status
- Retired · age 38
The record
Professional MMA; retired unbeaten. record
The story
habib Nurmagomedov retired in 2020 with a perfect 29-0 record. A two-time combat sambo world champion from Dagestan with a background in wrestling and judo, he won the UFC lightweight title from Al Iaquinta in 2018 and defended it three times, submitting Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje. His 1,077-day reign is the longest in UFC lightweight history. His method rarely changed: push the opponent to the cage, take him down with wrestling or judo and sambo trips, trap an arm and the legs so he cannot get up, and strike from the top until something opens. Nineteen of his 29 wins came by knockout or submission. He walked away after the Gaethje fight, aged 32, and entered the UFC Hall of Fame in 2022.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- UFC lightweight champion (2018–2021, 3 successful defenses)
- Combat sambo world champion (2009, 2010)
- UFC Hall of Fame, Modern Wing (2022)
Defining fights
- 2018WINvs Al Iaquinta (UD, won UFC lightweight title)
- 2018WINvs Conor McGregor (neck crank R4)
- 2019WINvs Dustin Poirier (rear-naked choke R3)
- 2020WINvs Justin Gaethje (triangle choke R2, final fight)
Pin the opponent to the fence, chain single-leg, trip and body-lock attempts until one lands, then trap a wrist and the legs so they cannot stand. Wrestling and grappling students can drill fence-to-mat chains and top rides that control an arm and a leg at the same time.
