History of Khabib Nurmagomedov in Timeline
Khabib Nurmagomedov is a retired Russian mixed martial artist known for his dominant reign as the UFC Lightweight Champion. He held the title from 2018 to 2021, retiring undefeated with 29 wins. His exceptional skills and record have earned him recognition as one of the greatest mixed martial artists ever, culminating in his induction into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2022.
September 1988: Early Life and Introduction to Martial Arts
Born in September 1988, Khabib Nurmagomedov's interest in martial arts stemmed from watching students train in his father's gym. His early training included wrestling a bear at the age of nine.
September 1988: Birth of Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov was born on September 1988 in Sildi, Dagestan ASSR, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union.
2001: Move to Makhachkala and Formal Training
In 2001, Khabib Nurmagomedov's family relocated to Makhachkala, where he began formal training in wrestling at 12, judo at 15, and combat sambo at 17 under his father's guidance.
September 2008: Professional MMA Debut and Early Victories
Khabib Nurmagomedov's professional MMA journey began in September 2008. He secured four wins in a single month and won the Atrium Cup tournament in Moscow on October 11th by defeating all three opponents.
2011: Signing with UFC
Khabib Nurmagomedov signed a six-fight deal with the UFC in late 2011, marking a major step in his career.
January 2012: UFC Debut and Victory over Kamal Shalorus
On January 20, 2012, at UFC on FX 1, Khabib Nurmagomedov made his UFC debut with a third-round submission victory against Kamal Shalorus.
July 2012: Victory over Gleison Tibau at UFC 148
Khabib Nurmagomedov's victory over Gleison Tibau at UFC 148 on July 7, 2012, was significant as it marked his first fight training outside the American Kickboxing Academy.
2012: Early Training Camps
In 2012, Nurmagomedov trained at various camps, including SC Bazarganova in Kizilyurt, Dagestan, K-Dojo, AMA Fight Club in New Jersey, and Mamishev Fight Team in Saint Petersburg.
January 2013: First-Round KO against Thiago Tavares
Khabib Nurmagomedov won his fight against Thiago Tavares at UFC on FX 7 on January 19, 2013, via a first-round knockout. However, the victory was somewhat overshadowed by Tavares's subsequent suspension for testing positive for banned substances.
May 2013: Record-Breaking Victory at UFC 160
On May 25, 2013, Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Abel Trujillo at UFC 160 via unanimous decision. Despite missing weight, Nurmagomedov set a new UFC record for the most takedowns in a single fight with 21.
June 2013: Marriage to Patimat
Khabib Nurmagomedov married Patimat in June 2013.
September 2013: Dominating Performance at UFC 165
Khabib Nurmagomedov's dominating victory over Pat Healy at UFC 165 on September 21, 2013, caught UFC president Dana White's attention, who praised Nurmagomedov's potential and predicted big things for him.
2013: Training at Fight Spirit Team
Nurmagomedov joined the Fight Spirit Team in Kolpino, St. Petersburg for training in 2013.
February 2014: Canceled Bouts and Frustration
Khabib Nurmagomedov faced a series of canceled bouts in early 2014, including fights against Gilbert Melendez and Nate Diaz, leading to frustration and public expression of his desire to face the best.
April 2014: Dominant Victory over Rafael dos Anjos
Khabib Nurmagomedov secured a dominant unanimous decision victory against former UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael dos Anjos at UFC on Fox 11 on April 19, 2014.
September 2014: Knee Injury and Bout Cancellation
A knee injury sustained by Khabib Nurmagomedov in September 2014 forced the cancellation of his planned bout against Donald Cerrone at UFC 178.
May 2015: Recurring Knee Injury and Withdrawal
In May 2015, Khabib Nurmagomedov had to withdraw from his rescheduled bout with Donald Cerrone at UFC 187 due to a recurring knee injury, further derailing his momentum.
June 2015: Birth of Daughter
Nurmagomedov and his wife, Patimat, welcomed their first child, a daughter, in June 2015.
December 2015: Withdrawal from The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale
Khabib Nurmagomedov withdrew from his scheduled fight against Tony Ferguson at The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale in December 2015 due to another injury, continuing a frustrating trend of setbacks.
2015: Training with KHK MMA Team
In 2015, Nurmagomedov trained with the KHK MMA Team in Bahrain, which was financially backed by Bahraini prince Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
April 2016: Rescheduled Bout and TKO Victory
After multiple cancellations, Khabib Nurmagomedov finally returned to the octagon in April 2016 at UFC on Fox 19. He won the fight via TKO in the second round against Darrell Horcher, who stepped in as a replacement for the injured Tony Ferguson.
November 2016: Victory Against Michael Johnson
In November 2016, Khabib Nurmagomedov faced Michael Johnson at UFC 205. Nurmagomedov dominated the fight, securing a submission victory in the third round. During the fight, he urged Dana White to consider him for a title shot.
2016: Co-founding Eagles MMA
Nurmagomedov, with support from Dagestani billionaire Ziyavudin Magomedov, co-established his own training team, Eagles MMA, in 2016.
March 2017: Canceled Bout with Tony Ferguson
In March 2017, Khabib Nurmagomedov's scheduled fight against Tony Ferguson for the interim Lightweight Championship at UFC 209 was canceled. Nurmagomedov fell ill due to complications from weight cutting.
December 2017: Dominating Victory Against Edson Barboza
Khabib Nurmagomedov secured a unanimous decision victory against Edson Barboza at UFC 219 in December 2017. His dominant performance, characterized by repeated takedowns and ground-and-pound dominance, earned him his first Performance of the Night bonus.
December 2017: Birth of First Son
Patimat gave birth to their second child, a son named Magomed after Khabib's great-grandfather, in December 2017.
April 2018: Confrontation with Artem Lobov
In April 2018, Nurmagomedov had a confrontation with Artem Lobov, a teammate of Conor McGregor. This incident would later play a role in the UFC 229 post-fight brawl.
April 2018: Beginning of Longest Reigning UFC Lightweight Champion
Khabib Nurmagomedov's reign as the longest-running UFC Lightweight Champion began in April 2018.
April 2018: UFC Lightweight Championship Victory
In April 2018, Khabib Nurmagomedov faced Al Iaquinta at UFC 223 and won via unanimous decision, becoming the UFC Lightweight Champion. The fight was marked by a series of opponent changes due to injuries and weight-cutting issues, making Iaquinta's inclusion controversial.
August 2018: UFC Announces Nurmagomedov vs. McGregor
In August 2018, the UFC announced that Khabib Nurmagomedov would defend his lightweight title against Conor McGregor at UFC 229 in Las Vegas on October 6.
October 2018: Honors from Chechnya
Following his victory against Conor McGregor at UFC 229, Nurmagomedov was bestowed with the title of "Honorary Citizen of Grozny" by the city's mayor, received a Mercedes car as a gift from Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, and his father, Abdulmanap, was honored as an "Honoured Worker of Physical Culture of the Chechen Republic."
October 2018: NSAC Withholds Fight Purse and Issues Temporary Suspension
Immediately following the brawl at UFC 229 in October 2018, the NSAC withheld a portion of Nurmagomedov's fight purse and issued temporary suspensions to both Nurmagomedov and McGregor pending a full hearing.
October 2018: Victory and Brawl with Conor McGregor
Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Conor McGregor at UFC 229 in October 2018, extending his win streak to 27-0. However, the event was marred by a post-fight brawl involving both fighters' teams, triggered by Nurmagomedov jumping the octagon fence to confront McGregor's teammate Dillon Danis. Nurmagomedov's cousin, Abubakar, was also involved in the altercation.
2018: Social Activism in Dagestan
In 2018, Nurmagomedov advocated for social changes in Dagestan, calling for restrictions on nightclubs and criticizing a rap concert in Makhachkala that he deemed inappropriate.
2018: Support for Ziyavudin Magomedov
Following the arrest of Ziyavudin Magomedov on embezzlement charges in 2018, Nurmagomedov used his platform after winning at UFC 223 to publicly request Russian President Vladimir Putin to release Magomedov.
January 2019: NSAC Announces Suspensions and Fines
Following the UFC 229 brawl, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) announced suspensions and fines for those involved in January 2019. Nurmagomedov received a nine-month suspension and a $500,000 fine, while McGregor received a six-month suspension and a $50,000 fine. Other participants in the brawl also received suspensions and fines.
June 2019: Nurmagomedov Signs Multi-Fight Contract with UFC
In June 2019, Khabib Nurmagomedov signed a new multi-fight contract with the UFC, securing his future in the organization.
July 2019: End of Suspension
Khabib Nurmagomedov's nine-month suspension, retroactive to October 6, 2018, ended in July 2019, making him eligible to compete again.
September 2019: Victory Against Dustin Poirier and Title Unification
Khabib Nurmagomedov successfully defended his lightweight title against interim champion Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 in September 2019. He won via rear-naked choke submission in the third round, unifying the lightweight titles. The event was marked by mutual respect between the fighters, with Nurmagomedov donating proceeds from the sale of Poirier's gifted shirt to charity.
December 2019: Order For Services to the Republic of Dagestan
Khabib Nurmagomedov and his father, Abdulmanap, were honored with the Order For Services to the Republic of Dagestan in December 2019 by the Head of the Republic, Vladimir Vasilyev, recognizing their significant contributions to sports in Dagestan.
December 2019: Birth of Second Son
Nurmagomedov's third child, a son, was born in December 2019.
2019: Cultural Identity and Interests
As of 2019, Nurmagomedov was a third-year student at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics. He embraced his Dagestani Avar culture by wearing a papakha hat and was a dedicated football fan, supporting teams like Anzhi Makhachkala, Galatasaray, Real Madrid, Liverpool, and the Russian national team.
2019: Ranked #1 Most Successful Russian Athlete
In 2019, Khabib Nurmagomedov achieved significant recognition by being ranked as the #1 most successful Russian athlete by Forbes. He also topped the list of the 40 most successful Russian show business and sports personalities under 40.
2019: Criticism of a Play in Dagestan
Nurmagomedov publicly criticized a play staged in Dagestan in 2019, objecting to a scene he considered inappropriate, and called for a government investigation and an apology from those involved.
April 2020: Canceled Bout with Tony Ferguson at UFC 249
For the fifth time, a scheduled bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson was canceled in April 2020. This time, the cancellation was due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which prevented Nurmagomedov from traveling from Russia.
May 2020: Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov's Health Struggles
Khabib Nurmagomedov's father and coach, Abdulmanap, was placed in a medically induced coma in May 2020 due to complications from COVID-19 following heart surgery.
July 2020: Passing of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov
Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov passed away in July 2020 at the age of 57 in a Moscow clinic after battling health complications.
July 2020: Start of Voting Period for 2021 Awards
The voting period for the 2021 awards commenced in July 2020, marking a shift due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
October 2020: Victory Against Justin Gaethje, Retirement Announcement, and Performance of the Night
At UFC 254 in October 2020, Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Justin Gaethje by technical submission in the second round, defending his UFC Lightweight Championship. Following the victory, he announced his retirement from mixed martial arts, citing a promise made to his mother following the passing of his father. This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.
October 2020: Religious and Social Views
In October 2020, The Guardian recognized Nurmagomedov as the second-most-popular Muslim athlete globally, after Mohamed Salah. Following his victory against Conor McGregor, he used his platform to express his ultra-conservative worldview, advocating for a crackdown on nightclubs in Dagestan in 2018 and criticizing a rap concert in Makhachkala, leading to its cancellation. In 2019, he condemned a play in Dagestan for a scene involving a scantily-clad woman. He also criticized French President Emmanuel Macron's comments on freedom of speech, which he perceived as offensive to Muslims, in the wake of the Samuel Paty murder.
October 2020: Retirement and Coaching Career
Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from MMA in October 2020 and transitioned into a coaching role at American Kickboxing Academy. He coached several prominent UFC fighters, including Islam Makhachev.
March 2021: UFC Accepts Nurmagomedov's Retirement
Despite attempts to bring him back for another fight, UFC president Dana White officially accepted Khabib Nurmagomedov's retirement in March 2021. Subsequently, the UFC Lightweight Championship was vacated.
March 2021: Removal from UFC Rankings
Following his retirement and title vacation in March 2021, Khabib Nurmagomedov was removed from the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings.
March 2021: Retirement and Title Vacation
Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from professional fighting in March 2021 with an undefeated record. This led to his removal from the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings, despite being ranked #1 at the time of his retirement.
July 2021: End of Voting Period for 2021 Awards
The voting period for the 2021 awards concluded in July 2021, reflecting the adjusted timeline due to the pandemic.
August 2021: Football Speculation
In August 2021, rumors circulated about Nurmagomedov potentially signing a professional football contract with Russian club Legion Dynamo. However, he clarified that he was just a fan of the team and had not signed a contract.
December 2021: Grappling Match Offer to Tony Ferguson
Ali Abdelaziz, Nurmagomedov's manager, extended a public offer to former UFC rival Tony Ferguson for a grappling match against Nurmagomedov in December 2021.
June 30, 2022: Induction into the UFC Hall of Fame
On June 30, 2022, Khabib Nurmagomedov was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as one of the sport's greats.
July 1, 2022: Induction into UFC Hall of Fame
Khabib Nurmagomedov was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame during the International Fight Week in Las Vegas.
December 2022: Social Media Influence
By December 2022, Nurmagomedov became the most-followed Russian individual on Instagram, amassing over 34 million followers.
January 2023: Full Retirement from MMA
In January 2023, Nurmagomedov announced his complete retirement from MMA, stepping away from coaching to prioritize his family.
January 2023: Full Retirement from MMA
Khabib Nurmagomedov fully retired from MMA in January 2023 after transitioning to coaching and cornerman roles following his fighting retirement.