Khabib Nurmagomedov keeps trying to tell everyone he is a big deal. We all know he mauls dudes in the Octagon like the bears from his childhood, but we’re talking popularity here, a contest Conor McGregor feels he wins handedly. Sure, McGregor is the biggest star in the UFC and has an entire nation of behind him, but Nurmagomedov has Russia. …And Russians. …And they are fucking crazy.
Now, Nurmagomedov has his own MMA team. Eagles MMA contains 4 UFC fighters, 4 WSOF fighters and 10 Eruasia Fight Night fighters. Some of these bad dudes include undefeated Vitaly Minokov(former Bellator Heavyweight champion before he was stripped), Rasul Mirzaev, and UFC’s Islam Makhachev and Ali Bagautinov. If that wasn’t scary enough, look at the insane mob of people that swarmed the stage after the presser.
#Khabib Nurmagomedov fans rush to the stage to take a group selfie with their hero @TeamKhabib
I wonder how did he stay alive pic.twitter.com/DkEE9B99Mo— Denis Geyko (@denis26rt) November 25, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6aG5L6KPD0
No matter the chaos, no matter the insanity(and probable profitability) of Ireland vs. Russia a.k.a. Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor, the current king of two divisions has to take care of his kid. Even then, a fight for the belt isn’t promised. McGregor has turned both weight classes into chaos and, until they really do strip him, Max Holloway’s fight with Anthony Pettis is for an interim interim belt.
…Which is why Nurmagomedov has settled for an interim lightweight title show as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbVD0R2mXjw