Khabib Nurmagomedov doesn’t think he can be compared to the great Muhammad Ali
Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of the greatest MMA athletes of all-time. The 31-year-old is undefeated in his professional MMA career and there seems to be no stopping him.
The Russian is the current UFC Lightweight Champion and holds an incredible 28-0 MMA record. He has dominated most of his rivals and there really seems to be no weakness in his game.
Some have even compared him to the late Muhammad Ali. Ali is considered as the greatest boxer to have ever lived but he did a lot of work outside of the ring too.
Born Cassius Clay, Ali embraced Islam and as a black man growing up in America, he fought against racial injustice towards his community.
He was stripped of his title and sent to jail for not signing up and fighting for the army too. However, Ali won several titles even after his return from jail and is seen as greatest figures of the 20th century.
Khabib was asked about his comparison with Ali but the UFC star added that he was nowhere near the greatest ever:
“I think comparing Ali and me is probably wrong. Only if we talk about the fact that we are both champions and both Muslims.
“But all the things he did outside the ring, with this I cannot be compared. Indeed, at the time when he was a champion, he was another race.
“And at that time in America, black people were treated badly. According to his stories, he was not even served in restaurants. He threw away the gold medal.
“He changed the attitude towards his race very much. So we cannot be compared.”
Khabib added that the only way the pair could be compared was if he went back in time and was a black athlete like Ali was.
Khabib is one of the most humble stars in the UFC too, and the only way to get on his nerves is to target his religion and family, something that Conor McGregor did.
While some might suggest his MMA skills aren’t the best in the Octagon, most of his rivals have added that his character and nature cannot be questioned.
Khabib explaining why he cannot be compared to Ali is spot on, and many UFC fans also backed the champ’s statement.
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