The mixed martial arts world witnessed an unusual turn of events as Indian UFC fighter Anshul Jubli retreated from comments about legendary champion Khabib Nurmagomedov following intense criticism from the combat sports community.
The controversy began when the 30-year-old lightweight made eyebrow-raising statements during his appearance on The Ranveer Show, one of India’s most popular podcasts. Jubli suggested he possessed the technical prowess to defeat the undefeated Dagestani icon in multiple ways.
“If there is something different between Khabib and me, then they are different on skill levels. But I will definitely take that chance. I have to survive the first round. Can knockout in the second round. I can submit Khabib, I can do anything,” Jubli declared with confidence that soon proved costly.
The Indian fighter went further, expressing his willingness to face either Nurmagomedov or current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev on short notice. “If I get a call that with Khabib or with the current champion Islam if I have a challenge, I will jump at that opportunity,” he added.
The remarks quickly spread across social media platforms, drawing sharp reactions from fans and professionals alike. Perhaps the most pointed response came from Javier Mendez, the American Kickboxing Academy head coach who guided Nurmagomedov throughout his historic undefeated career.
“He’s a good kid. I don’t know why he’s saying ridiculous things like that. Maybe he’s trying to get attention. He’s in no position to talk like that,” Mendez responded on his YouTube podcast, maintaining a measured but firm tone.
The veteran coach emphasized the importance of earning credentials before making such bold proclamations. “Be a champion or be a number one contender. You wanna talk that kind of talk, but bro, I mean, what’s his record?” Mendez questioned.
The timing of Jubli’s statements proved particularly unfortunate given his current position within the organization. Despite entering the UFC with an unblemished record from regional competitions after earning his contract through the Road to UFC tournament, the Indian fighter has yet to record a victory inside the Octagon, having dropped both of his appearances on the main roster.
Following the widespread criticism, Jubli has since walked back his comments. He insists that his comments were taken out of context and never meant as disrespect toward the former UFC champion.
In a video response, Jubli addressed the controversy, claiming that selective editing from his long-form interview led to widespread misunderstanding.
“As you’ve seen, they took small clips from my long interview and made it look like I am disrespecting Khabib. First of all, I don’t give a damn what people think of me. I don’t waste energy on opinions, especially to those brainless, brainwashed haters, ” he said.
“To the haters…that hateful mind, where I’m talking good about Khabib, taking small
clips from there and making it look like I’m speaking badly about him, that is beyond my understanding.”
Jubli expressed frustration at the way his words were misrepresented, emphasizing that his admiration for Nurmagomedov remains intact.
“People who know me know very well how much I look up to Khabib. I’ve taken a lot from Khabib in my own game. But those who have hate deep inside, they won’t understand this.”
The 30-year-old clarified that his statement about being able to “submit Khabib” was made humorously, not as a serious claim. He said, “And the part where I’m saying I’d submit Khabib, it is said in a sense of humor. You’ll understand if you see the whole video.”
