Khabib Nurmagomedov is aware of a factor or two about taking up one of the best and brightest from Eire.
Now in his new position as coach and mentor, the retired UFC light-weight champion has moved on from his personal traditionally nasty rivalry with Conor McGregor, and he’s making ready his cousin Usman Nurmagomedov for a title protection towards Irish upstart Paul Hughes at a PFL occasion scheduled in Dubai on Jan. 25. The cardboard has been constructed round “Dagestan vs. Eire” however Nurmagomedov says there actually isn’t a lot comparability while you take a look at the larger image.
“Eire don’t have fighters, brother,” Nurmagomedov mentioned in a brand new interview posted by PFL. “Let’s be trustworthy. What number of fighters are you aware from Eire? Paul Hughes and Conor [McGregor] and who else? There isn’t a fighters.”
Whereas there are absolutely a protracted checklist of Irish fighters — together with UFC welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry — who would vehemently disagree, Nurmagomedov says it’s actually only a numbers sport.
Nurmagomedov has to look no additional than the sheer quantity of fighters popping out of his residence area in Dagestan to grasp true domination on the worldwide scale.
Within the UFC, Nurmagomedov’s shut good friend Islam Makhachev reigns as each the light-weight champion and the present high pound-for-pound fighter within the sport. In the meantime, Usman Nurmagomedov reigns on the Bellator light-weight champion however that doesn’t even start to cowl the huge quantity of fighters from Dagestan adorning the rankings throughout quite a few divisions.
The truth is, Nurmagomedov says there are a protracted checklist of prospects who can’t even get booked as a result of promoters are fearful about Dagestan fighters utterly taking on.
“You come to Dagestan, you possibly can perceive,” Nurmagomedov mentioned. “You understand so many organizations they don’t even signal Dagestan fighters as a result of they fear about like all people can grow to be champion.
“Dagestan, and let’s be trustworthy, Dagestan stage of MMA [up] right here. However Eire stage? Not even half of Dagestan stage.”
After listening to about Nurmagomedov’s feedback, Hughes may solely promise that he’s able to reply the problem when he faces Usman in January.
“Simply wait and see,” Hughes wrote.
Darren Until gave his tackle the scenario on X.
I’ve all the time revered Khabib and his staff so much they’re incredible fighters
However for him to sit down there and say fighters from Eire are low stage compared of sizes of nations and manufacturing Eire is definitely means forward
Eire is so fucking small and Russia is so fucking…— DT (@darrentill2) January 3, 2025
I’ve all the time revered Khabib and his staff so much they’re incredible fighters. However for him to sit down there and say fighters from Eire are low stage compared of sizes of nations and manufacturing Eire is definitely means forward. Eire is so fucking small and Russia is so fucking massive. Eire has produced wonderful fighters through the years. I might mentioned simply over dimension and manufacturing of the nation Eire wins each time and this isn’t me being biased as a result of I’m neither associates with khabibs facet or irelands facet I’m simply stating my opinion.
