If you thought Dagestani’s dominance ended with Umar Nurmagomedov’s loss to Merab Dvalishvili, think again. Khabib Nurmagomedov’s UFC reign was just the beginning. Since his retirement, Dagestan’s fighting legacy has only grown, with champions rising across multiple combat sports. The era of Dagestani dominance is far from over — it’s only just begun and all of the stalwarts of the nation have come under a single roof as ‘Eagle’ reminded the world what dominance looks like.
Taking to his Instagram handle, Khabib Nurmagomedov shared a series of stories where he showcased the talented underrated individuals of Dagestan, who have accomplished amazing feats in their careers. He shared photos with Shirvani Muradov(Former Olympic Champ), Islam Makhachev(UFC lightweight champ), Usman Nurmagomedov(Bellator lightweight champ), Gadzhi Rabadanov(PFL Champ), Tagir Ulanbekov, Magomedrasul Gasanov(ACA Champ), Amru Magomedov(UAE Warriors Chsmp), Kasum Kasumov, Abubakar Nurmagomedov, Rizvan Magomedov, Zayukov Magomed( May Thai Champion) and much more.
Why did he share the accomplishments of his fellow teammates? Only Khabib himself can answer that question. Was it to show the world that Dagestan continues to dominate the combat sports scene, or was it to promote his champions, like Islam Makhachev? We can speculate on various scenarios, but one undeniable fact remains — Khabib Nurmagomedov’s reign in the UFC firmly placed Dagestan on the MMA map.
MOSCOW, RUSSIA – AUGUST 14, 2020: Mixed martial artist Khabib Nurmagomedov holding the title of UFC Lightweight Champion gives a press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz at the StandArt Hotel Moscow. Mikhail Metzel/TASS PUBLICATIONxINxGERxAUTxONLY TS0E339B
Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s legacy was not just a chapter that was meant to be faded from the books of MMA but it was a spark that ignited like wildfire. Fighters like Islam Makhachev, Umar Nuemagomedov, Usman Nurmagomedov, and many more are walking in the footsteps of ‘Eagle’ to make sure that their dominance remains strong within the world of MMA. Beyond MMA, Dagestani wrestlers and sambo champions stormed global arenas, proving their dominance across combat sports.
Well, as Khabib Nurmagomedov and his teammates break their fast, the MMA community is curious about Islam Makhachev’s next battle — will it be against Ilia Topuria? Daniel Cormier has now stepped forward to address the speculation.
Daniel Cormier reveals why team Khabib is not keen on facing Ilia Topuria
There’s one thing that the entire UFC world wants to witness and that’s the clash between Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev. In order to fight against the Dagestani, ‘El Matador’ even relinquished his featherweight title. However, the reality is that Team Khabib believes that Topuria would have to prove his mettle against the top brass of the lightweight division before he could share the Octagon against Islam Makhachev. Daniel Cormier in his conversation further gave some insider details about why team Khabib is not keen on giving ‘El Matador’ a chance at the title.
“You know, Chael, that was my initial thought. But I’ve talked to those guys a little bit, and I know they think Ilia should fight someone first. Fighting Alexander Volkanovski, who at the time was number one pound-for-pound. Remember when their first fight was announced? It was a battle for the number one spot. Islam beat him, but it was close, and then we had this weird moment where both Islam and Volk were number one. Islam was like, ‘Wait, give me what you said I’d get.’ And the world responded, ‘Well, you only beat a 145-pounder.’” said Daniel Cormier.
Despite being one of the most dominant fighters, Islam Makhachev has faced criticism from some fans for defending his title against a featherweight, having fought Alexander Volkanovski twice. If he were to face Ilia Topuria next, the criticism would not only persist but likely intensify. This is one of the price reasons for the Dagestani to take the fight against the former featherweight champion and quite frankly, Makhcahev believes that he deserves a chance to fight for the second title. Given the predicament, what are your thoughts on the fate of the lightweight division? State your thoughts in the comments below.
The post Reminding Dagestani Dominance, Khabib Nurmagomedov Sends Personalized Message to 18 Teammates Including Islam Makhachev appeared first on EssentiallySports.
