“I don’t fight for the money. I fight for my legacy. I fight for history. I fight for my people.” That remains one of the most powerful quotes from MMA icon Khabib Nurmagomedov. It’s been nearly five years since the UFC Hall of Famer last stepped into the Octagon. Following the tragic passing of his father, ‘The Eagle’ chose to walk away from the sport, keeping a heartfelt promise to his mother.
Despite retiring at the peak of his career, Nurmagomedov remains widely regarded as the greatest MMA fighter of all time. As of now, he still holds the top spot among grapplers on Tapology, a testament to his enduring influence. Unlike many of his former rivals, Khabib Nurmagomedov and his Dagestani team actively embrace a lifestyle rooted in unwavering discipline and hard work. They live by a clear ethos—often summarized as “no party, no girlfriend”—and dedicate themselves entirely to training, sleeping, eating, and repeating.
Even after stepping away from competition, Khabib continues to influence the MMA world through the rise of his protégés like Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov. ‘Team Khabib’ continues to operate on its core principle: discipline and hard work above all. In recent times, the surge of AI-generated content has fueled a wave of viral quotes falsely linked to ‘The Eagle’.
One such moment drew widespread attention after ‘Red Corner MMA’ shared a clip on X from episode #168 of The Joe Rogan Experience, featuring UFC light heavyweight Khalil Rountree Jr. During the episode, the podcaster brought up a viral video that seemingly showed ‘The Eagle’ speaking about discipline. Curious, the podcaster asked producer Jamie to play the clip, which featured the following monologue:
“Every man addicted to something. Some smoke, some drink some chase girls. But real man he addicted to discipline. To early wakes to prayer to training to silence. Discipline no need motivation. Discipline moves without feeling. Discipline say I go anyway, even when tired even when lonely. Discipline is best addiction. You want strong life discipline build it. You want peace, discipline, protect it…”
The funniest part? Joe Rogan, apparently unaware that the quote was AI-generated, said he was going to use the audio as his morning alarm.
Joe Rogan fell for an AI-generated voice clip, thinking Khabib actually said it.
@joerogan pic.twitter.com/ONTGWBokIL
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) July 28, 2025
Khabib Nurmagomedov has delivered many powerful reflections on discipline over the years, but this particular quote stands out. Though it mirrors ‘The Eagle’s well-known values and tone, there is no confirmed source verifying that he actually said these words.
Some believe the quote may have originated from a Russian translation, which complicates its traceability. That said, ‘Red Corner MMA’—a Russian-based platform that often features interviews with ‘Team Khabib’—shared the clip, lending a degree of credibility to its content despite the lack of direct attribution.
Joe Rogan reveals what drives Khabib Nurmagomedov and his team’s success in the UFC
After Khabib Nurmagomedov stepped away from active competition in the UFC, he took a brief hiatus before returning to the MMA world—not as a fighter, but as a mentor. His focus shifted to training and refining the skills of his teammates and cousins. Continuing the ‘Eagle’s’ path, Islam Makhachev has carried the legacy forward with a near-perfect run in the promotion.
With just a single loss in his decade-long career, Makhachev has not only defended the lightweight title multiple times but has also surpassed legends like Khabib Nurmagomedov and BJ Penn with four successful title defenses. He now sets his sights on a debut in the welterweight division. Meanwhile, Khabib’s cousin Umar Nurmagomedov has been a rising force in the UFC’s bantamweight division. He racked up an impressive 18-fight win streak before Merab Dvalishvili recently snapped it.
Still, ‘Team Khabib’ continues to grow in stature, with several of its fighters making their mark—all while staying true to the guiding principles of the famed “father’s plan.” Speaking about the unwavering discipline shared by Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov, Joe Rogan offered his insight:
“Khabib had unbelievably grueling training sessions. And, you know, that was one of the things that was so apparent, like, with his endurance. And his discipline was like second to none….recover, train, eat, recover, train. And you want to really be a champion, this is how you have to work. This is how Islam Makhachev is so good, that’s why Khabib is so good– those guys are disciplined,” he added.
So what’s your take on Team Khabib and the current dominance of Dagestani fighters in MMA? Do you think this next generation could surpass the legacy and standards that Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov have already set? Drop your thoughts below.
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