HIGHLIGHTS OF ALL THE UFC FIGHTS OF KHABIB "THE EAGLE" NURMAGOMEDOV PART 1

Khabib Nurmagomedov Twitter Account

With the much-awaited, much-debated clash between Ultimate Fighting Championship titans Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov set to take place on Saturday, October 6, 2018, it is only right that we take a look at their journeys so far in the UFC.

YouTube channel, UFC Fighting World, uploaded a great compilation of highlights of all the UFC fights to date of Khabib Nurmagomedov on July 17, 2018, and having just come across this video, I will start with the man from Dagestan, Russia.

In the description section of the page, the uploader commented that the video showed the evolution of the UFC lightweight champion also known as The Eagle, to the animal that "mauls everyone," and he or she is of the opinion that nobody on the planet can beat Khabib in the 155 pound weight category. Honestly, I don't blame the uploader for feeling having this sentiment as the featured video lends credence to this opinion.

Having fought professionally for almost four years with almost all of his fights occurring in the former Soviet Union, Khabib Nurmagomedov entered the UFC undefeated, taking on Kamal Shalorus on January 20 2012, in Nashville, Tennessee, the United States of America.

In his debut against Kamal Shalorus - and in most of his earlier UFC fights - he showed he could mix it up standing, and dropped his opponent with a vicious left hook at the 1:58 mark. At this point in his career, it looks like he was not as great, or as confident, as he is now on the floor as he failed to capitalise on his dropping his opponent to the canvas with the brutal ground and pound he is renowned for now. However, he still managed to force Kamal to tap out, winning the fight via a submission.

In his second UFC fight, which took place on July 7, 2012, he displayed a ferocious relentlessness against the tough Brazilian, Gleison Tibau. However, unlike his first UFC bout, this fight went the distance, and the decision win definitely meant the world to him as he dissolved into tears when he heard his name called as the winner.

The referee in his next fight, against Thiago Tavares, did a poor job by allowing Khabib to keep punching an absolutely defenceless and helpless Tavares on the canvas, as if fate had not been on the Brazilian's side, he could have lost his life. After the January 19, 2013 fight, Tavares tested positive for the banned substance, drostanolone (also known as dromostanolone), the anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS).

Now, I don't support or condone cheating, neither do I hold brief for cheaters. However, can you imagine having a date in the octagon against such a beast as the Eagle.That thought is enough to drive some people to seek the aid, the fortification, of banned substances. Yet, Tavares lost. It's so unfortunate that even with the aid of the substance, he performed so poorly against Khabib.