Khabib Nurmagomedov now has a champion in all three of the major MMA promotions.
The lightweight legend has taken up coaching in retirement and quickly built one of the best stables of fighters, which includes the pound-for-pound number one, Islam Makhachev.
As well as the 155lb UFC champion, ‘The Eagle’ has a titleholder in Bellator where his cousin, Usman Nurmagomedov, reigns over the lightweight division with an 18-0 (1NC) record.
Now Khabib Nurmagomedov has another champion in the Professional Fighters League [PFL].
Gadzhi Rabadanov wins $1million PFL title fight
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s teammate scored a ‘Knockout of the Year’ contender in the PFL lightweight final on Friday night.
Gadzhi Rabadanov entered the biggest fight of his career with a 24-4-2 record, which included a nine-fight win streak and three consecutive victories since joining the UFC’s biggest rival.
Brent Primus stood in the way of the 31-year-old Dagestani and the $1 million cheque up for grabs in all six of the world title fights on the stacked card in Saudi Arabia.
Primus is a former Bellator champion, who has shared the cage with Michael Chandler, Benson Henderson, and Usman Nurmagomedov during his 20-fight MMA career.
Unfortunately for the American, he was no match for Rabadanov, who dropped him twice before bringing their bout to a brutal end in the third frame.
Nurmagmedov’s pal connected with a flush left hook that had Primus out on his feet. Three follow-up shots sent Rabadanov’s opponent crashing face-first to the canvas where he ate one more unnecessary punch before the referee waved things off.
Rabadanov celebrated wildly after becoming a millionaire and earning another title for his famous gym.
Will Khabib Nurmagomedov ever fight again?
Khabib Nurmagomedov shocked the world when he retired in 2020.
The 29-0 Russian phenom was just 32 years of age and at the top of his game when he announced he was walking away from the sport after choking out Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.
UFC CEO Dana White made desperate attempts to get him to stay, but Nurmagomedov stuck to his guns, relinquished his world title, and retired for good.
MMA fans have been begging him to return ever since. Four years on, Nurmagomedov recently shut down comeback rumors that began when he started documenting his intense workouts on social media.
“There is no chance. None. Not even 1 percent. Minus,” he said in October.
Khabib added: “If you guys need champions, I’m helping my brothers to become champions… We have Islam [Makhachev] as a champion, we have Umar [Nurmagomedov] as the next contender, we have Usman [Nurmagomedov] as champion – we have a lot of champions.
“You guys are never going to miss me because in our team and our gym, we create champions – you guys are always going to have champions, don’t worry.”