5 fighters who were compared to Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov is undoubtedly a UFC legend. The former lightweight champion retired undefeated back in 2020 and has left a long-lasting legacy.
During his career, but even more so since he has retired, many fighters have been compared to Khabib Nurmagomedov, some rightly and some wrongly.
Often these comparisons have come due to a similarity in fighting style, but sometimes, they've been lazier ones based on a fighter hailing from the same area as 'The Eagle'. Either way, these comparisons are always quite interesting.
Here are five fighters who have been compared with Khabib Nurmagomedov.
#5. The flyweight Khabib Nurmagomedov - Muhammad Mokaev
Many UFC fans were stunned this weekend when it was announced that the promotion had cut ties with top 10-ranked flyweight contender Muhammad Mokaev.
'The Punisher' defeated Manel Kape at UFC 304 to extend his unbeaten MMA record to 13-0, and most observers expected him to be rewarded with a title shot for his efforts. However, that won't be the case now.
Regardless, it was easy to see why Mokaev was compared with Khabib Nurmagomedov, even before he signed with the UFC.
Hailing from the same region of Russia - Dagestan - as 'The Eagle', Mokaev incorporates a similar style in his fights. He looks to drag his foes to the ground and unleash a ferocious onslaught of strikes on them until they either break, or give up a submission.
Interestingly, in an interview prior to his UFC debut, Mokaev welcomed the comparisons to Khabib, although he did state that he didn't want people to call him "Khabib 2."
Unfortunately for the fighter who now calls the UK home, emulating Khabib by winning UFC gold will no longer be an option for the time being. Perhaps becoming an unbeaten champion in a rival promotion like PFL really does like in the future, instead.
#4. The light heavyweight Khabib Nurmagomedov - Magomed Ankalaev
Back in 2018, when it was announced that Magomed Ankalaev had signed with the UFC, the word quickly went around that the promotion had found the "light heavyweight Khabib Nurmagomedov."
On the face of it, the comparisons made some sense. Hailing from Dagestan, Ankalaev had built a reputation for abusing opponents with his powerful wrestling game. He also brought an unbeaten record of 8-0 into his octagon debut.
That record, of course, didn't last long. Despite dominating Paul Craig for the majority of his first UFC fight, Ankalaev fell prey to a late triangle choke, suffering the first loss of his career.
The Dagestani has not lost since and is currently riding a 12-fight unbeaten streak. Despite this, the comparisons to Khabib Nurmagomedov now seem to have cooled off entirely.
It's difficult to see why this might be. While Ankalaev has scored more standing knockouts than 'The Eagle' during his octagon tenure, he remains the most fearsome wrestler at 205 pounds, with few fighters being able to stop his takedowns.
Perhaps if he can claim light heavyweight gold in the near future - something he narrowly missed out on in 2022 when his bout with Jan Blachowicz was declared a draw - the comparisons will return.
#3. The Chechen Khabib Nurmagomedov - Khamzat Chimaev
It's probably fair to say that even Khabib Nurmagomedov didn't burst onto the scene in the UFC quite as explosively as Khamzat Chimaev.
Largely because of his issues with injuries, Khabib was practically a slow-burner when it came to catching on with UFC fans. He only became a real star when his rivalry with Conor McGregor began, some five years after his debut.
However, when Chimaev debuted in the octagon during the COVID-19 pandemic and smashed his way through two opponents in just 10 days, the comparisons to 'The Eagle' quickly began.
Despite Chimaev hailing from Chechnya rather than Dagestan, it was easy to see why he was considered the "new Khabib" by many fans.
Like Khabib, 'Borz' appeared to have the ability to take down any opponent with ease, a trend that's continued even as he's climbed the ladder to face trickier opponents.
And just like 'The Eagle', Chimaev is not short on confidence, famously threatening to "smash" anyone he faced. Astonishingly, he even suggested he could do the same to Khabib himself if they were to fight, before the two men ironed out their differences down the line.
Right now, Chimaev is suffering with injuries and ill health, something that threatens to hold him back from reaching his potential.
Interestingly, the same thing could've been said about Khabib around a decade ago, before he finally got healthy and hit his stride in his final few years in action.
With any hope, Chimaev can walk the same path.
#2. The bantamweight Khabib Nurmagomedov - Umar Nurmagomedov
Given that he is the cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov and also trains with 'The Eagle', Umar Nurmagomedov was always likely to be compared to the former UFC lightweight king.
However, these comparisons are not a lazy trope rolled out by fans who know no better. To watch Umar in action really is like watching a bantamweight version of Khabib.
Like his cousin, 'Young Eagle' is primarily a powerful wrestler who loves nothing more than to drag his foes down and beat them up or submit them.
Just like Khabib, Umar's takedown average per fight is extremely high - 4.51 with an accuracy of 56% compared to Khabib's 5.32 with an accuracy of 48%.
The two men also sport similar stats when it comes to the amount of significant strikes they land per fight, as well as their striking and takedown defense. Interestingly, Umar's stats are slightly superior to Khabib's, although that may be a testament to the tougher competition faced by the latter.
'Young Eagle' is currently 17-0, so he has some way to match Khabib's incredible record of 29-0. However, he may get to a UFC title in quicker fashion. If he beats Cory Sandhagen this weekend, he'll probably be one win away from becoming champion.
If he can do that, then he could step out of his cousin's shadow to become a UFC legend in his own right.
#1. The heir to Khabib Nurmagomedov - Islam Makhachev
The fighter most regularly compared to Khabib Nurmagomedov - and usually seen as the heir to his throne - is Islam Makhachev.
Not only is Makhachev close to Khabib, being both his friend and training partner, but he's also captured the title once vacated by 'The Eagle', and now stands as UFC lightweight champion in his own right.
Makhachev's fighting style admittedly isn't identical to Khabib's, as he appears to be a better kickboxer and is more submission-based on the ground. He also incorporates more clinch-based takedowns than double legs from the outside.
However, the incredible workrate and powerful grappling possessed by Makhachev means the comparisons to Khabib are still easy to make.
Interestingly, the rise of Makhachev has been eerily similar to that of Khabib. Like 'The Eagle', Makhachev built his record up by crushing lower-ranked opponents while higher-ranked foes largely dodged him until that became impossible.
And like Khabib, it's arguable that very few opponents have ever tested Makhachev to the edge of his abilities, as the Dagestani has usually been able to run through whoever he's faced.
Right now, though, it still feels like Makhachev lives in the shadow of his mentor in many respects. That could be because a lot of the fighters at the top of his division - Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje, for instance - were near the top in Khabib's day and were also beaten by 'The Eagle'.
It could also be, of course, that Makhachev has yet to surpass his mentor.
Despite his greatness, though, Khabib only defended his lightweight title on three occasions, a feat already matched by Makhachev. Perhaps with a few more successful defenses, the current champ can step out of Khabib's huge shadow.
Even if he does that, it's likely that the comparisons between the two men will continue, but only in a way that enhances Makhachev's reputation.