Six years after he walked away unbeaten, Khabib Nurmagomedov is still shaping the UFC from the corner. In November 2025 he stood behind his long-time teammate Islam Makhachev at Madison Square Garden as Makhachev won the welterweight title at UFC 322.
Twenty-nine fights, twenty-nine wins and a lightweight reign that ended only on his own terms: this is the story of The Eagle from Dagestan. See more fighters in our UFC collection.
Khabib Nurmagomedov Fact File
| Full name | Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 20 September 1988 (age 38) |
| Place of birth | Dagestan, Russia (then part of the USSR) |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Reach | 70 in (178 cm) |
| Weight class | Lightweight |
| Nationality | Russian |
| Status | Retired (2020); coach and cornerman |
| Record | 29-0 (UFC 13-0) |
| Nickname | The Eagle |
Career History
| Event | Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| UFC on FX 1 | 20 Jan 2012 | Kamal Shalorus | Win – submission (UFC debut) |
| UFC 223 | 7 Apr 2018 | Al Iaquinta | Win – decision (wins vacant title) |
| UFC 229 | 6 Oct 2018 | Conor McGregor | Win – neck crank, round 4 |
| UFC 242 | 7 Sep 2019 | Dustin Poirier | Win – rear-naked choke, round 3 |
| UFC 254 | 24 Oct 2020 | Justin Gaethje | Win – triangle choke, round 2 |
Key UFC fights only. His full professional record is 29 wins and no defeats: 8 by knockout, 11 by submission and 10 on points.
Wrestling in Dagestan
Khabib was coached from childhood by his father, Abdulmanap, and started wrestling at around eight. A widely shared video shows him as a boy wrestling a young bear. He later moved to Makhachkala and took up judo and combat sambo.
He became combat sambo world champion in 2009 and 2010 before turning his full attention to mixed martial arts.
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Unbeaten to the Title
Khabib made his UFC debut in January 2012 with a submission win over Kamal Shalorus. His relentless takedowns and smothering top control proved almost impossible to stop.
On 7 April 2018 at UFC 223 he beat Al Iaquinta on a unanimous decision to win the vacant lightweight title.
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McGregor and Poirier
His first defence, against Conor McGregor at UFC 229 in October 2018, was one of the most anticipated fights in UFC history. Khabib dominated and forced the tap with a neck crank in the fourth round.
In September 2019 he unified the belt by submitting interim champion Dustin Poirier at UFC 242.
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The Final Fight
His father died in July 2020. Three months later, at UFC 254, Khabib submitted Justin Gaethje with a triangle choke in the second round, then announced his retirement in the octagon, saying he had promised his mother he would not fight on without his father. He left at 29-0 and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2022.
Honours
Mixed martial arts
- UFC lightweight champion (2018–2020), three successful defences
- Undefeated professional record: 29-0
Sambo
- Combat sambo world champion: 2009, 2010
Recognition
- UFC Hall of Fame, Modern Wing (Class of 2022)
Away From the Octagon
Since retiring, Khabib has coached and cornered fighters from his team, including Islam Makhachev and his cousin Umar Nurmagomedov. He co-founded the Eagles MMA team and bought a promotion that he renamed Eagle FC.
FAQs
How old is Khabib Nurmagomedov?
Khabib was born on 20 September 1988, so he is 38.
Where is Khabib from?
He was born in Dagestan, in Russia's North Caucasus, and grew up training under his father, Abdulmanap.
How tall is Khabib Nurmagomedov?
He is 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) with a 70-inch reach.
What was Khabib's record?
He retired unbeaten at 29-0, including 13-0 in the UFC.
How did Khabib beat Conor McGregor?
At UFC 229 on 6 October 2018 he submitted McGregor with a neck crank in the fourth round to retain his lightweight title.
Why did Khabib retire?
After beating Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in October 2020, he said he had promised his mother he would not fight without his late father.
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Khabib Men's T-Shirt
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Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Conor McGregor Career Story and Muhammad Ali Career Story.
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