“He can surprise them” - Khabib Nurmagomedov says fans will be blown away by Saygid Izagakhmaev’s striking
MMA icon Khabib Nurmagomedov may have retired from the sport, but he's still very involved outside the cage. He never ceases to praise his fellow Russian and star pupil Saygid Izagakhmaev, who faces Shinya Aoki at ONE 163.
The Academy MMA affiliate has gone a perfect 2-0 since signing with ONE in early 2022. Khabib recently spoke to ONE Championship about an aspect of Izagakhmaev's game that might surprise viewers, saying:
"The audience expects him to have a good wrestling skill set, but he can surprise them with how good he is on his feet. He has very good elbows and good hands. So far, he hasn’t had a chance to show these skills, to demonstrate his long arms, his striking."
As expected, Izagakhmaev has a strong wrestling background through his extensive training alongside Khabib and the rest of his team. But the 28-year-old has a very underrated striking arsenal that often surprises opponents.
Khabib expects big things from Izagakhmaev
Izagakhmaev, the No.4-ranked ONE lightweight, is scheduled to take on MMA veteran and No.5-ranked lightweight Shinya Aoki at ONE 163. The Russian expects to receive a title shot with a stellar showing.
His lifelong friend and training partner, Khabib, has a ton of confidence in his star pupil. He told ONE:
“I’ve been training with Saygid my whole life. I know how much he improves every year. I know how dedicated he is. He’s getting physically stronger and stronger. He’s getting more and more experienced from fight to fight and soon, he’s going to be the best – not only in our team, but in the world. I have a lot of faith in him.”
Prior to joining ONE, Izagakhmaev racked up wins in promotions like AMC Fight Nights Global, Gorilla Fighting, and I.D. MMA, amongst others.
Izagakhmaev has already caught the attention of the champ, Christian Lee, who is well aware of the contender's talents. A win over Aoki could very well earn the Russian a title shot once Lee returns to the division.
Make sure to watch rising lightweight contender Saygid Izagakhmaev take on Japanese MMA legend Shinya Aoki at ONE 163 on November 19, live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium.