Guests: Episodes with Khabib Nurmagomedov

Khabib Nurmagomedov, born September 20, 1988, is a Russian former mixed martial artist renowned for his career in the UFC Lightweight division. He set records as the longest-reigning UFC Lightweight Champion from April 2018 to March 2021 and retired undefeated with 29 wins. Widely acclaimed as one of the greatest in MMA, he was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in June 2022. A multi-talented fighter, Khabib specialized in sambo, judo, and wrestling and was a two-time Combat Sambo World Champion.

Hailing from Dagestan, Russia, he is the first Muslim to win a UFC title and is a social media sensation in Russia with over 34 million Instagram followers as of December 2022. Post-retirement, Khabib transitioned into coaching and promoting his own fighting championship, Eagle Fighting Championship (EFC), before retiring from the sport entirely in January 2023.

Known for his “mauling” wrestling-based style, Khabib applied relentless pressure against opponents, leveraging his weight and striking with precision. Nineteen of his 29 victories came by TKO/KO or submission. MMA experts and champions like Randy Couture and Joe Rogan have praised his skill level, with Rogan declaring him “the most terrifying lightweight contender in the world.”

Outside the ring, Khabib is a family man married to Patimat since 2013, with whom he has three children. His extended family also boasts other UFC and Bellator fighters. Over the years, Khabib and his late father Abdulmanap received multiple awards, including an “Honorary Citizen of Grozny” title and various other recognitions for their contributions to sports in Dagestan.