Khabib Nurmagomedov had mumps before the legacy-defining UFC 254 main event
It is common knowledge that Khabib Nurmagomedov called it a day after his UFC 254 victory against Justin Gaethje. He defended his lightweight belt for the third successive time and went 29-0-0 in his professional MMA career.
That fight is where the legacy of the Russian reached a crescendo; a perfect culmination of an untouchable career. But little did people know that he was not really in his best shape before the PPV.
Recently, ‘The Eagle’ revealed in an interview that he had mumps before the fight. And Daniel Cormier was talking about that incident on ESPN MMA this week.
DC said that he did not see Khabib in that state, but was aware that he had the mumps. And not just him, the former light heavyweight champion said that it was Khabib’s whole camp.
“I think what Khabib did was even more impressive because of all the obstacles that he had to take and get through during his training camp. It was not a good training camp for Khabib.”
Daniel Cormier says Khabib Nurmagomedov winning after battling mumps made it more special
DC added that because of battling what he did in his training camp, his UFC 254 win was even more special.
“For him to dominate in the way that he did just shows how truly special and elite that he is, and how far he has separated himself from the rest of the lightweights in the word”.
Khabib also broke his thumb before a couple of weeks before taking on possibly his toughest rival in Gaethje.
His fight with Gaethje seems like a fine wine. It just seems to get better with age. Details like these further add to the legend of the Russian.
But we may have to do with his highlight reels if we miss seeing him in action because a return looks unlikely for him, And, the Georges St-Pierre match-up looks more like a fantasy fight with each passing day.
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