Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has recently become a part of the ongoing antitrust lawsuit against the UFC.
Despite his retirement in October 2020, Nurmagomedov’s influence in the world of MMA remains significant. His decision to retire was largely influenced by the passing of his father and lifelong coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, in July 2020.
While Khabib has distanced himself from active competition, he remains an integral part of the MMA community. He actively participates in training sessions with his teammates, including the reigning UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
According to reports, the UFC has renewed its motion for summary judgment in the antitrust case that former middleweight Cung Le filed against the company. The UFC contract signed by Nurmagomedov is one of the case’s evidence.
Cung Le filed the case back in 2014 while he was still competing for the UFC. Le is a veteran of American mixed martial arts and kickboxing. He was suspended by the UFC when he tested positive for HGH during his 2014 middleweight match against Michael Bisping.
However, the lab responsible for testing Le’s samples was not accredited by WADA. Additionally, Le’s blood sample was destroyed before further confirmatory testing could be performed.
Cung Le’s lawsuit against the UFC triggered a collective response from fellow combatants, including Jon Fitch and Nate Quarry. They accused the UFC of engaging in anticompetitive practices that hindered their careers. Should they emerge victorious, substantial compensation from the UFC could be on the horizon.
This has now become a key piece of evidence in this legal battle.
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s UFC journey began in January 2012. The contract details disclosed reveal that for his victory over Edson Barboza in 2017, Khabib received a total of $160,000. This also included an $80,000 win bonus.
This contract spanned from his bout against Rafael dos Anjos in April 2014 to the Barboza clash in December 2017.
Khabib became a champion after facing Barboza in a last minute Al Iaquinta match up in 2018.
As Khabib’s career progressed, so did his earnings. Notably, he secured a substantial $2 million paycheck for his bout against Conor McGregor in 2018.
TThis was signed in Dec 2013, so his second deal with UFC. this deal ran from RDA – Barboza fights. he got 21/21 , 24/24 , 27/27 , 30/30 during that four fight stretch. two fights later he fought Conor, for a disclosed $2 million base pay.