Khabib Nurmagomedov is a legend in the world of mixed martial arts, and is renowned as one of the greatest combatants of all time. He left an indelible mark on the sport before retiring with a flawless 29-0 record, boasting an impressive 19 finishes and 13 UFC victories. Even former United States President Donald Trump commended his greatness.
In an exclusive interview for UFC Unfiltered with Jim Norton and Matt Serra, Trump expressed his admiration for Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The former president shared, “I think Khabib was great and it looks like he probably doesn’t come back, but I asked [UFC President] Dana [White] last night, ‘where is Khabib? Are you going to get him to come back?’, but I thought he was a seriously good fighter.”
When Norton pointed out that Nurmagomedov had made a promise to his mother never to compete again, Trump added: “Well when his father died, he had something, but I thought he was a fantastic fighter.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s decision to retire left many fans yearning for more. Walking away from the sport at the peak of his career with just three title defenses, was seen by some as a premature decision.
However, his utter dominance in the octagon led to his induction into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2022. Even after retiring, he remained committed to the sport as he coached and cornered several competitors. He most notably was the mentor of the current lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev.
During the interview on July 24, Trump expressed his admiration for Masvidal, highlighting the reasons behind their strong bond. “Jorge Masvidal — you know why I love him — I love people that like me, he liked me,” Trump remarked. He went on to share some details of Masvidal’s life, emphasizing that he came from Cuba and faced challenging circumstances from a young age. Despite the odds, Masvidal’s support for Trump and his political campaign made a substantial impact on the Hispanic population in Miami and Florida, contributing to Trump’s success in the region.
One significant moment that solidified their relationship was when Trump famously endorsed Masvidal before his UFC 244 ‘Baddest Motherf*****’ title fight against Nate Diaz on November 3, 2019.