Khabib Nurmagomedov at an Eagle Fighting Championship event
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Manager Dispels $5 Million Grappling Match Speculations
Khabib Nurmagomedov, a retired combat sports icon, found himself at the center of grappling match rumors, mainly fueled by Dana White’s persistent efforts to lure him back into the UFC. Speculations turned towards a potential grappling showdown with Georges St-Pierre, a notion that initially seemed plausible, considering St-Pierre’s openness to the idea.
However, Nurmagomedov promptly extinguished these rumors, publicly expressing his disinterest in the match. Despite his clear stance, UFC CEO Dana White disclosed that he had made an offer, which Nurmagomedov declined. While White is known for his penchant for embellishing stories to promote future events, evidence surfaced to suggest the offer was genuine.
Adding intrigue to the narrative, Craig Jones claimed on the El Segundo podcast that Nurmagomedov had demanded an extravagant $5 million to accept the match. Rizvan Magomedov, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager, addressed these claims with clarity in a statement to Russian news outlet TASS media. Magomedov stated that discussions had not progressed to the point of determining monetary figures, emphasizing that the focus was primarily on Nurmagomedov’s desire to engage in the match:
“They proposed to hold a fight, but the conversation didn’t even reach the amounts. They didn’t even discuss, they didn’t ask what amount and price. They asked if there was a desire or not. Then it was all over. And where did Craig Jones get the figure about 5 million, maybe his grandmother whispered these numbers to him. It looks funny.”
In response to the $5 million figure, Magomedov humorously suggested that perhaps Craig Jones had received these purported numbers from his grandmother, dismissing the notion as amusing speculation.
The highly anticipated rematch between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira at UFC 294, set to unfold in the heart of Abu Dhabi this October, has ignited fervor within the MMA community. Oliveira, seeking redemption, aims to reclaim his lightweight throne from Makhachev. However, Makhachev faces a unique challenge, as his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, will not be in his corner for the second time in his UFC career, a void keenly felt in his previous bout against Alexander Volkanovski, where he nearly tasted defeat.
Intriguingly, Khabib Nurmagomedov, the revered lightweight legend, envisions a far more formidable encounter in the upcoming rematch, making a unanimous prediction. Their last clash transpired at UFC 280, where Makhachev halted Oliveira’s winning streak and secured the lightweight championship for Dagestan. While Khabib initially radiated confidence in Makhachev’s dominance, he now foresees a shifting dynamic in their rematch.
Khabib anticipates a challenging battle for both fighters, highlighting that Charles Oliveira, known as ‘Do Bronx,’ has reached a juncture where he has nothing to lose, setting the stage for an intriguing and unpredictable showdown. Khabib elaborated, “There will be more risks for Islam. Oliveira has nothing to lose. He has already lost. I think it won’t be an easy fight for both of them. For Islam, the second fight will be more difficult than the first. This is my purely personal opinion.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s absence from Makhachev’s corner, stemming from his retirement earlier this year, holds significance, considering the pivotal role he played as a coach. Khabib’s presence not only instilled confidence but also offered a strategic advantage with his profound fight IQ. This void is particularly noteworthy, given that Makhachev’s lone fight without Khabib in his corner marked his most vulnerable moment.
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