City Kickboxing head coach Eugene Bareman recently crowned Khabib Nurmagomedov as the unparalleled GOAT of mixed martial arts. Bareman offered admiration for the UFC Hall of Famer, pointing out not just the Dagestani icon’s unparalleled supremacy but also his defensive prowess.
Bareman states that two of the most crucial qualities he looks for in combatants are the ability to maximize damage dealt to opponents while minimizing harm taken directly from them. According to him, no one utilized these attributes better than Khabib Nurmagomedov.
In a recent interview on the She Loves The Gloves blog series, Bareman not only applauded Nurmagomedov’s in-ring prowess but also commended his decision to retire at the pinnacle of his career. Bareman emphasizes that this feat is one of the most challenging accomplishments in the realm of martial arts.
He said: “He could go into the ring and come out of it relatively unscathed. In addition to this, he’s one of the few athletes who managed to leave the sport on top. From all my years of being involved in martial arts, I know that it is the most difficult thing to do.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov stands as an anomaly in the world of mixed martial arts. Boasting an undefeated record, he not only secured victories but did so with a level of dominance rarely witnessed. Across 29 bouts, Nurmagomedov never lost more than two rounds.
In addition, he has never been knocked down, bled inside the octagon, or had a swollen eye. The worst danger he has ever experienced came from Dustin Poirier’s desperate guillotine choke. This was quickly followed by Nurmagomedov’s rear-naked choke that made Poirier unconscious.
The early departure of Khabib Nurmagomedov from the sport left many fans unhappy. However, he did leave the UFC lightweight class with the all-time record for most championship defenses. He first faced Conor McGregor in the richest grudge battle in UFC history to defend his 155-pound title.