“I just wanted to be a champion with my father. This will be my last fight in UFC. I told my mother that I want to spend more time with her because she’s the only parent I have left in this world.”

–       Khabib Nurmagomedov after his last fight

Khabib is one of the most well-known UFC wrestlers. He won the UFC Lightweight Championship once and successfully defended it three times; he also holds the record for the longest Lightweight champion reign in UFC history (1077 days).

But that’s not it, his biggest achievement is that he remains undefeated throughout his UFC career.

One of the best in sports, nicknamed as the Eagle, here is his life story!

Sil’di, Dagestan

He was born in 1988 in a village named Sil’di which comes in Dagestan. Destiny wanted him to be a wrestler, as he took birth in a fighting family.

His father served in the military, before becoming a coach in Sambo Martial arts. His father later became the coach of the national martial arts team of Dagestan. He was quite famous in his profession.

That is why Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov started to train his two sons in Martial arts from a very young age.

Khabib started his training when he was only 7 years of age!

After a while, Khabib’s father decided to take his training to the next level.

Khabib, His father, his 3 uncles with all their sons decided to shack up in the same house. They moved to the capital of Dagestan, Makhachkala where all 16 of them lived together.

He and his cousins only practiced Martial arts with a laser-sharp focus.

One of the most legendary stories about Khabib comes from this time. His father made him fight with a small bear when he was only 9 years old so that he builds his character and strength.

Win, Win and Win

In 2005, Khabib followed in his father’s footsteps, by competing in Combat Sambo.

He won the gold at the 2008 and 2009 Sambo World championship but that was not it. He went into different categories of combat and still emerged victories.

He became the Eurasian hand-to-hand combat champion, then a European Pankration champion, and finally a North American Grappling Association Champion.

He made his MMA debut in September 2008 and from there till October 2011 he racked up a staggering record of 16-0 competing in Russia and Ukraine.

The man knew nothing else but victories.

UFC

Khabib Nurmagomedov made his UFC debut in January of 2012. Since then, he blew away every individual he faced.

He became the first Muslim to win a UFC title and he also became the most followed Russian on Instagram.

His rivalry with Conor Mcgregor was always simmering but never materializing. Finally, in October of 2018, the two megastars fought and Khabib came out on top.

This event currently sits as the 3rd best-selling pay-per-view event of all time.

It is this fight that further propelled Khabib into global stardom.

In July 2020, Khabib’s father passed away because of COVID-19, this was a life-altering point in the wrestler’s life.

3 months later he fought against Justin Gaethje in which he defeated the American via second-round submission.

Right after the fight, Khabib shook the world by announcing he’ll be retiring from UFC.

He had promised his mother he wouldn’t fight without his father by his side and that is why he was retiring. He then left the Octogen and has never returned to it since.

He retired from UFC with a staggering record of 29-0.

Never bowed, never humbled, and never defeated.