“There’s not a light round in that gym. And Khabib (Nurmagomedov), he’s still training, he’s still going hard, he’s smashing me no matter what.” Belal Muhammad stated in an interview with Barstool Chicago. The reigning UFC welterweight champion didn’t sugarcoat it. Training with the Dagestani great is like entering a storm. And if you survive that crucible? You come out sharper than ever.
So, is it any surprise that ‘The Eagle’s fighters are turning heads across the MMA world? With Islam Makhachev reigning over the UFC lightweight division and Muhammad holding the welterweight crown, the Dagestani training regime seems to be more than just hype. And at the PFL World Tournament, another disciple of Khabib Nurmagomedov made sure that all eyes were on him!
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s reaction says it all as Team Eagle member dominates at PFL World Tournament 3
At the PFL World Tournament 3, Gadzhi Rabadanov demonstrated why his name is quickly becoming synonymous with destruction and highlight reel-worthy moments. Taking on former UFC fighter Marc Diakiese, Rabadanov unleashed a flurry that left fans in awe and broke the internet with the clip going viral almost instantly.
32 seconds, that’s all it took for Rabadanov to close out the show. The knockout? It was savage. The moment Diakiese threw a kick, Rabadanov caught it with cat-like reflexes. As Diakiese stumbled to the ground, unable to maintain his footing, Rabadanov pounced. Raining down a flurry of ground and pound, he left the former UFC fighter out cold on the canvas. Lights out. No questions asked.
On his Instagram story, Khabib Nurmagomedov shared the clip of the KO with the caption, “Dominant performance @gadzhi_rabadanov Brother”. No frills, just approval from one of the most respected minds in the game.
My lord Marc Diakiese gets tkod in the 1st
By Gadzhi Rabadanov #PFLWorldTournament pic.twitter.com/VShvG1L7P3
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) April 19, 2025
For Gadzhi Rabadanov, this wasn’t a lucky break. This is a pattern. The 31-year-old has now won 11 straight, including the PFL lightweight crown last December. Three knockouts in his last three fights and wins over names like Brent Primus and Jay Jay Wilson, ‘The Eagle’s influence is clearly at work behind his incredible rise to prominence.
In the grand scheme of things, Rabadanov’s rise is more than just another fighter winning fights. It’s a reminder that behind ‘The Eagle’s retirement lies a new era, one where his presence looms large in every jab, takedown, and title chase his team enters.
But while Gadzhi Rabadanov keeps the Dagestani fire roaring in the PFL, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s mind is never far from the UFC’s lightweight throne. So, who can truly test another one of his teammates and the pound-for-pound king, according to ‘The Eagle’?
Ilia Topuria’s lightweight ambitions get shut down by Nurmagomedov
UFC lightweight king Islam Makhachev has received one name from ‘The Eagle’ for his next fight. Ilia Topuria’s move to lightweight has caused a frenzy in the division, and Paddy Pimblett is also on the rise after his win over Michael Chandler. But according to Khabib Nurmagomedov, there’s only one fighter who deserves the shot. A man who has already stood across the cage from Makhachev once before.
During a recent interview with Adam Zubayraev, Nurmagomedov bluntly stated, “My personal opinion — not necessarily [more] dangerous, let’s say more competitive — I think it’s [Arman] Tsarukyan.”
The Armenian powerhouse was supposed to run it back with Makhachev at UFC 311 before a last-minute back injury pulled the plug. Their first encounter in 2019 ended in Makhachev’s favor, but not before Tsarukyan pushed the Dagestani fighter to the brink in a close fight.
But why not ‘La Leyenda’? After all, he vacated his 145-pound title to chase greatness at lightweight. However, according to ‘The Eagle’, “I think Arman is a more serious fighter than Topuria. Topuria is a good fighter at 145 but we haven’t seen him at 155. I believe Arman is more competitive for Islam than Topuria.”
So, where does that leave us? As the MMA world still catches its breath from Rabadanov’s 32-second thunderstorm, Khabib Nurmagomedov is already looking ahead, eyes locked on the horizon, chessboard in mind. Will the UFC and Dana White listen to his opinion and set up a rematch between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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