UFC commentator Joe Rogan recently raised eyebrows by suggesting that Khabib Nurmagomedov’s perfect professional record deserves scrutiny. In a recent podcast discussion, he specifically talked about Khabib’s 2012 match against Brazilian Gleison Tibau.
“If you look at the record, you know, you look at, like, Khabib’s got an undefeated record. There’s an asterisk, and that asterisk is Gleison,” Rogan stated during the conversation. “Gleison Tibau, that was a very close fight that I thought Khabib lost.”
The bout in question took place early in Nurmagomedov’s UFC career, long before the Russian claimed the lightweight championship and established himself as one of the sport’s most dominant champions. Despite the official record showing a unanimous decision victory for Khabib, the contest has remained controversial among MMA analysts and fans.
Rogan acknowledged the timing of the match, noting, “But it was early in Khabib’s career. You know, it was before he won the title.”
The discussion also touched on physical size differences in the lightweight division, with Rogan’s guest suggesting Tibau was among the largest competitors at 155 pounds during his era. The podcast conversation explored how Tibau, while world-class, never quite reached the elite “top five” status in the division.
“Well, if you think that he almost won or could have won, he definitely could have gotten that decision over Khabib. He’s right up there,” Rogan remarked, though his guest countered by emphasizing the fight occurred before Nurmagomedov reached his prime.
Nurmagomedov retired in 2020 with a perfect 29-0 professional record following his victory over Justin Gaethje. Throughout his career, the Dagestani icon dominated opponents with his wrestling prowess and ground control.
The Tibau match remains the closest contest in Nurmagomedov’s UFC tenure by many metrics. According to statistics, Tibau successfully defended all of Khabib’s takedown attempts—a rare achievement against the grappling specialist—while landing comparable strikes throughout the three-round affair.
