5 reasons why Khabib Nurmagomedov shouldn't be a part of UFC’s Mount Rushmore

Khabib Nurmagomedov is undoubtedly one of the greatest fighters in UFC history. He dominated the lightweight division with his incredible grappling, which made him a feared opponent. He joined the promotion in 2012, where he spent the remainder of his career.

Nurmagomedov is also famously known for his undefeated streak. The Hall of Famer retired from the sport in 2020 with an undefeated 29-0 MMA record. He strove for excellence inside the octagon and was a fighter that was motivated more by competition and respect, rather than money.

Despite his unblemished MMA record and lightweight title win, it's hard to include him on a Mount Rushmore list. Many fighters, both from his era and those that competed prior to him, made a stronger argument for that recognition.

As time goes on, perhaps 'The Eagle' will cement a strong enough legacy outside the octagon to be included on such a list. This list will look at five reasons why Khabib Nurmagomedov shouldn't be a part of UFC’s Mount Rushmore.

#5. Number of UFC events headlined

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When thinking of fighters that belong on a Mount Rushmore list, it's natural to take the number of UFC events headlined into account. In Nurmagomedov's case, that's not a stat the helps his argument. He was a fighter that didn't become a headliner until later on in his tenure with the promotion.

Even when competing on some of the free events on FOX, 'The Eagle's bouts didn't serve as the main event. Out of his 13 bouts with the promotion, only four were the main events as they were title fights.

It's also important to note that the final two main event bouts followed his win against Conor McGregor. The bout made him a bigger star because of how personal the buildup was.

In addition, five of Nurmagomedov's 13 bouts with the promotion took place on the prelims portion of the event. He was also forced to withdraw from a few bouts, which resulted in him being unreliable as a headliner.