Featured Image Credit: Adam Zubayraev/YouTube
Topics: Khabib Nurmagomedov, UFC, Jon Jones
Nasir Jabbar
Topics: Khabib Nurmagomedov, UFC, Jon Jones
Khabib Nurmagomedov named not one but two legends when asked to name the greatest MMA fighter in history.
Nurmagomedov is in the MMA GOAT conversation following his legendary UFC career.
'The Eagle' won each of his 13 bouts inside the famed Octagon, capturing the UFC lightweight title in the process.
He beat the likes of Edson Barboza, Al Iaquinta, Conor McGregor, who reignited their rivalry with a now-deleted social media post, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje during his iconic UFC spell.
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Nurmagomedov retired from the sport with an unbeaten professional record (29-0).
Fans and critics alike hold him in high regard, but who does Nurmagomedov view as the MMA GOAT?
Well, he put forward two names when asked to name the greatest MMA fighter of all-time.
"I'd say two guys, if that's allowed," he said on Adam Zubayraev's podcast, before adding: "Fedor [Emelianenko] and [Jon] Jones."
Asked why he didn't name himself, Nurmagomedov replied: "Calling yourself the greatest of all-time? No, I'm not being modest. Can I speak objectively? Then I'm not putting myself there and I never have."
Emelianenko and Jones, who recently retired, both enjoyed tremendous careers.
The Russian made his name in Japan with Pride, beating Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mark Coleman and Mirko Cro Cop, among others.
He never fought in the UFC after his team failed to strike a deal with Dana White.
'The Last Emperor', however, competed under the banners of Strikeforce and Bellator.
Jones, on the other hand, is a two-weight UFC champion, having claimed UFC titles in the light-heavyweight and heavyweight divisions.
He had a spectacular run at 205lbs, where he claimed the belt against Mauricio Rua before defending it against the likes of Rashad Evans, Lyoto Machida, Alexander Gustafsson and Daniel Cormier to name but a few.
'Bones' also won UFC gold at heavyweight when he stopped Ciryl Gane. He walked away from the UFC after refusing to face Tom Aspinall, but he has expressed an interest in fighting at the promotion's proposed White House event.