Khabib Nurmagomedov and Daniel Cormier are former teammates known for bantering each other.
The long-time freinds are always playing pranks on each other and exchanging playful insults.
However, it’s clear that Khabib Nurmagomedov and Daniel Cormier have deep respect for one another.
The former UFC lightweight champion got real about his relationship with ‘DC’ four years ago.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has never tapped Daniel Cormier
Despite the size difference, Nurmagomedov and his heavyweight teammate wrestled a lot.
The 29-0 Russian dominated every opponent he fought in MMA, but he couldn’t impose his will on Cormier, who carried a significant weight advantage into their sparring sessions.
“No, I never make him tap,” Nurmagomedov admitted during a fan Q&A in 2021.
“He’s too big, he’s like rock, you know, he’s like very big bear. He’s very strong. People when they watch him, they think like he’s like this short, fat heavyweight, but when people are in contact with him, they understand he’s like completely different.
“He’s two division world champion, light heavyweight, heavyweight, Strikeforce heavyweight champion, two-time Olympian. He’s like very, very strong.
“I never submit him, but we wrestle a lot. He teaches me a lot of things like on the ground, on the wall how to wrestle, like a lot of things.”
Will Khabib Nurmagomedov ever make a comeback?
Nurmagomedov retired from MMA after choking out Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in October 2020.
Several years later, he appears content in retirement amid constant calls for a MMA comeback.
Last October, Nurmagomedov responded to rumors about his potential return to the UFC Octagon.
“There is no chance, none. Not even 1 percent, minus [chance],” he said.
“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.”