Latest news with #Nurmagomedov
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Umar Nurmagomedov's coach excited to rematch a 'better' Merab Dvalishvili when time comes
ABU DHABI – Javier Mendez looks forward to game planning for an even more improved Merab Dvalishvili if Umar Nurmagomedov can rebound. Nurmagomedov (18-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) fell short in his title fight against bantamweight champion Dvalishvili (20-4 MMA, 13-2 UFC) at UFC 311 in January. After he revealed he broke his hand early in a fight where he won the first two rounds on two of the three judges' scorecards. During Wednesday's UFC on ABC 9 media day, Petr Yan said Nurmagomedov turned down a fight for the UFC on ABC 8 headliner in Baku, Azerbaijan this past June. Mendez addressed that claim, and gave an update on Nurmagomedov, who's manager Ali Abdelaziz teased has fight news soon. "I was told about that potential matchup, we didn't care who Umar was going to fight," Mendez told MMA Junkie. "We just know we needed a tough guy for us to potentially be back in the picture, but his hand wasn't healed enough to be cleared to go that early. So, we're expecting Umar to be fighting very soon and before the end of the year. I'm preparing to go to camp at the end of this month with Usman (Nurmagomedov). "Usman is defending his title at Coca Cola Arena here against an opponent to be named. I don't know who it is, but I'm sure it's going to be somebody really good. ... Within that training camp, it'll be Umar and Islam (Makhachev), and all the other guys will be in there too. I'll be with all the boys starting August, I'll be in Dagestan in Khabib (Nurmagomedov)'s new gym up in the mountains." Mendez has been super impressed with the improvement shown by Dvalishvili, who notched his second title defense when he submitted Sean O'Malley at UFC 316. "It was a great fight, it was super, super close," Mendez said on Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov. "Unfortunately, things didn't end up going our way, and Merab did a fantastic job. Since then, Merab has gone on to do an unbelievable job. He's gotten better, and I love that. "I love that he's gotten better because if we get another opportunity, we got to get by whoever they give us next. But if we get another opportunity at Merab, I want a better Merab. I don't want an old Merab, I want a better Merab, and that's what we're getting. We're getting a better Merab. Last fight was so, so impressive. I'm looking forward to that challenge if we can get by our next opponent." Mendez broke down what he tactically thinks Nurmagomedov did wrong in his first-career defeat to Dvalishvili. "A big mistake was not telling Khabib and I that he broke his hand because we would have changed the game plan completely," Mendez said. "I keep going back thinking, and I go, God dammit, why didn't I ask him, 'Why did you go in for the takedown?' Because Merab was super strong. Why would you try to go for a takedown when that was not a good idea? "He wasn't in a weak position, but he went in to shoot for a takedown. It hit me. Why – and I still to this day haven't spoken to Umar – was it that when you broke your hand? I'm not sure. The hand broke, but it is what it is. Fighters break hands, they break toes, and they fight and they win."
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Javier Mendez: Khabib Nurmagomedov 'that good,' could have been three-weight UFC champion
ABU DHABI – Javier Mendez could have seen Khabib Nurmagomedov ruling over three UFC weight classes. Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC) retired as an undefeated UFC lightweight champion after his father passed away. He fought his final fight against Justin Gaethje in October 2020 without his father in his corner. Nurmagomedov is widely considered the most dominant fighter in UFC history. No one had an answer for his intense pressure and wrestling, which he used to maul his opponents. Mendez is so high on Nurmagomedov that he thinks he could have captured two more UFC titles. "From what I remember, the conversations that Khabib and his father had and this was in Russian so it was being interpreted to me, and his father always wanted him at 155," Mendez told MMA Junkie. "(He) was doing great there and if anything, they wanted a legacy fight with GSP. His father envisioned GSP and him. "For me personally, as his coach since 2012, my personal feeling is that this guy could have won easily the lightweight which he did, the welterweight, and the middleweight. I believe he's that good. He would have 100 percent cleaned the clock on all of those three divisions, in my heart, what I seen in my eyes. I've seen him forever, and I watched what he did, and I watched how he kept improving." Nurmagomedov's finals three wins came in submission finishes over three of the lightweight division's best strikers in Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Gaethje. Mendez says he saw exponential growth in "The Eagle's" stand up over the years. "What people don't understand is that he only really did his vast majority of his striking with me so, he wasn't with me, but four, three-and-a-half months of the year, he'd do striking at home, but not with a real coach," Mendez continued. "It was only me and maybe a few of my other coaches, 'Pops' Carvalho, and that's pretty much it. We were the only ones training him. That's why people don't realize that Khabib – watch his evolvement in the striking from one, to another, to another. "You'll see him jumping up levels. At the very end there, he literally was beating up all the guys in stand up. Just standup, and I'd just put him in with pro boxers, and he'd beat them up in standup, too. That's how good he was getting, but unfortunately the world don't get to see him anymore because without his father, he just didn't feel that it was the right thing. So hey, it all worked out in God's plan, and now it's father's plan." Nurmagomedov's protege Islam Makhachev will look to capture a second UFC belt when he challenges welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena later in the year.
Daily Mirror
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Tyson Fury duped by Khabib Nurmagomedov video 'announcing' UFC return
Khabib Nurmagomedov has not fought since 2020, with the UFC legend insisting he will never return to the Octagon despite a recent AI video showing him 'announcing' his comeback Tyson Fury has been duped by an AI video suggesting UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov is coming out of retirement. Nurmagomedov, a former lightweight champion, retired from MMA after defeating Justin Gaethje in 2020. Since then, fans have been clamouring for the 'Eagle' to make a sensational return to the cage. The Russian made a promise to his mother five years ago that he would never fight again following his bout with the American. This vow was made shortly after the death of his father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Last year, the 36 year old reiterated that there is 'no chance' of him returning to the ring. However, it seems Fury didn't get the memo. The 'Gypsy King' was fooled by an AI video recently circulated on social media, reports All Out Fighting. The video featured the 'Eagle' supposedly discussing a return to the UFC and a potential match against bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, accompanied by the caption: "KHABIB WILL COME BACK TO THE UFC AND FIGHT MERAB!" It was clear, however, that old footage had been used with a voiceover mimicking Nurmagomedov's voice. The creator even labelled the video as 'Silly AI'. Fans were amused when Fury shared the clip on his Instagram story and tagged Nurmagomedov's account. At the height of his career, the 'Eagle' had to lose a significant amount of weight to meet the 155lb lightweight limit. Therefore, losing an additional 20lbs would be nothing short of torture for the 36 year old. Nurmagomedov is now mentoring top fighters in his beloved Dagestan, aiming to mould future champions. It's certain that he won't be making a comeback to the ring. However, the same can't be said for Fury, who last week announced his return to boxing. Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh revealed on X - previously known as Twitter - stating: "The 'Gypsy King' will be back! ! ! I talked with him, and I have his word to have him in Riyadh Season in 2026. We have a rabbit to hunt!". The Morecambe fighter later stated that the third bout between him and long-standing adversary Oleksandr Usyk is set for April 18, 2026 at Wembley Stadium. The 36 year old took to Instagram last Thursday, sharing a fight poster featuring both him and the Ukrainian, with the caption: "April 18, 2026 Wembley Stadium. The trilogy! UK. contact @spencerbrownmrgoldstar for tickets." After officially announcing the trilogy fight on Instagram, fans were quick to voice their opinions. "Woohoo... The fight no one wants to see," one fan commented. Another added: "Don't really see the point in this trilogy. Fury could knock Usyk out first round and Usyk would still have the better record both in and out of the trilogy." A third responded, "Trilogies should only happen if there are questions that need to be answered from the first two fights. All the questions have been answered," while another stated: "Just fight AJ ffs. No one wants to watch you lose again to Usyk." One more added: "What's the point? Fought twice, well beaten twice." Yet another voiced their opinion saying, "The fight nobody asked for," with a different commenter remarking: "No way, we don't need this fight please."
OC Media
04-07-2025
- Business
- OC Media
Former MMA fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov faces new scrutiny for tax delinquency
Sign in or or Become a member to unlock the audio version of this article Join the voices Aliyev wants to silence. For over eight years, OC Media has worked with fearless journalists from Azerbaijan — some of whom now face decades behind bars — to bring you the stories the regime is afraid will get out. Help us fuel Aliyev's fears — become an OC Media member today Become a member Khabib Nurmagomedov, a former undisputed UFC champion and native of Daghestan, is once again under scrutiny from Russia's Federal Tax Service (FTS). According to the Telegram channel SHOT, which is known to be linked to law enforcement officers, the FTS has issued him a new tax bill in the amount of ₽1.8 million ($23,000). The FTS has not yet disclosed the specific reasons for this new debt, nor have Nurmagomedov and his representatives commented on the report. The information published by SHOT has not been confirmed by other sources. In 2024, the FTS froze Nurmagomedov's bank accounts due to outstanding tax payments, penalties, and fines. At that time, the total debt amounted to ₽302 million ($3.8 million). In addition to the account freezes, court bailiffs seized assets belonging to the athlete worth ₽79 million ($1 million). This debt was later paid off, and enforcement proceedings were closed. Financial difficulties have also affected several organisations connected to Nurmagomedov. These include his MMA promotion company Eagle FC, his charitable foundation, and the travel agency Hikmet Travel, which was shut down in 2022 after the FTS found irregularities in its official documentation. In November 2024, reports also emerged about the freezing of accounts of two other organisations associated with Nurmagomedov — the Football Ball Museum and the Foundation for the Development of Education, Sport, and Social Initiatives. There has been no public update on the unfreezing of the museum's accounts, although it continues to operate. The foundation's accounts were reportedly unfrozen in January. Nurmagomedov, 36, ended his professional career in October 2020 after defeating American fighter Justin Gaethje in the second round of UFC 254. He retired undefeated with a record of 29 wins, becoming the first fighter in UFC lightweight history to retire with a perfect record. In April 2018, he won the UFC lightweight title by defeating American Al Iaquinta. Nurmagomedov's most famous fight came later that year when he defeated Irish fighter Conor McGregor — a bout that generated over $200 million in revenue, becoming the most profitable in MMA history. Advertisement Since retiring, Nurmagomedov has focused on business and coaching. In 2021, he was named 'Fighter of the Year' by ESPN's ESPY Awards, and in 2022, he became the first Russian to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
USA Today
25-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ray Longo: Rematch with Merab Dvalishvili 'maybe worse' for Umar Nurmagomedov
Ray Longo is confident that UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili beats Umar Nurmagomedov in even more emphatic fashion if they rematch. Dvalishvili (20-4 MMA, 13-2 UFC) handed Nurmagomedov (18-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) his first-career loss when he defeated him by unanimous decision at UFC 311 in January. However, Dvalishvili lost the first two rounds on two of the three judges' scorecards before rallying to win the fight. Two of Dvalishvili's three title wins came over Sean O'Malley. He dethroned O'Malley to become bantamweight champion in a decision win at UFC 306, but was able to submit him in their rematch at UFC 316. If Nurmagomedov ends up running things back with Dvalishvili, Longo thinks that'll spell bad news for the Dagestani fighter. "The same way the first fight went," Longo told Red Corner MMA on how he sees Dvalishvili vs. Nurmagomedov 2 going. "Maybe worse, just like O'Malley. The O'Malley, first one he didn't finish. The second one – the more comfortable Merab gets, the better he's going to get. He already fought Umar, he's got the confidence now. "You got to remember, even in the Umar fight, he played around a little bit. No playing around would have been a different story. So, he's getting more serious with the fighting, with that part. You didn't see it in the O'Malley fight, no playing around at all. No kissing, no looking away. He was all business so, he's going to do that – I believe he'll do that to Umar, too." Nurmagomedov hasn't competed since losing to Dvalishvili due to surgery for a broken hand suffered in the fight. Cory Sandhagen is currently the frontrunner for Dvalishvili's next title defense.
