Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager has named the only fighter who is capable of surpassing the former UFC champion’s undefeated MMA record.
Ali Abdelaziz is one of the most influential figures in the world of mixed martial arts.
Abdelaziz is renowned as the founder of Dominance MMA Management, a popular management company that represents the most successful fighters in the sport.
His organisation deals with several former and current UFC champions, including Khabib, Kamaru Usman, Islam Makhachev and Henry Cejudo.
The 47-year-old managed Khabib, 36, throughout his unbeaten, eight-year run in the UFC.
During this period, the Russian asserted himself as the No.1 pound-for-pound fighter in Dana White’s roster, ending his career as the UFC lightweight champion.
The Dagestan native famously battled Conor McGregor in 2018, submitting him in the fourth round before defending his belt twice more prior to his 2021 retirement.
Khabib retired with an undefeated 29-0 professional MMA record after defending the 155-pound strap against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, citing his father’s death as the main driving force behind the decision.
Abdelaziz now looks after a new generation of rising UFC stars and believes one of them is capable of beating Khabib’s perfect record.
Umar Nurmagomedov is the cousin of Khabib and has won all 18 of his pro MMA bouts.
Nurmagomedov turned professional in 2016 and fought for various promotions, including the PFL, before debuting with the UFC in January 2021.
He has since won all six of his bouts in White’s promotion and gets his first shot at UFC gold on January 19 against UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili.
”There’s no doubt in my mind Umar will be a champion at 135 pounds, and I believe Umar is going to be a champion for a long time,” Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie, praising for the 29-year-old.
“I think Umar is the only guy who can really challenge Khabib’s record.
“He can retire undefeated, 29-0, 30-0. Of course he has a tough opponent, but I believe Umar is better everywhere.”
Nurmagomedov followed a similar path to his iconic cousin in the UFC, going unbeaten in a string of bouts before securing a title shot after beating a ranked opponent.
The No.2 ranked bantamweight fought Cory Sandhagen in the main event of a UFC Fight Night card in August, winning by unanimous-decision to mark his sixth successive victory in White’s promotion.
He has finished half of his opponents in the UFC and won the rest of them via unanimous-decision, with his most recent against Sandhagen marking his first five-round bout in his pro career.
“Nobody above Umar wanted to speak with him,” Abdelaziz added.
“And huge credit to Cory Sandhagen, he said you know what I’m going to fight this man and he fought him.
“We all realise how good Umar is. I think he’s one of the best fighters we’ve ever seen. He’s so humble and so nice.
“He was offered Merab in Madison Square Garden and he said yes. He was offered Merab in December and he said yes. He was offered December 14, Song Yadong (No.8 ranked bantamweight), he said yes.
“He was offered in January Song Yadong and he said yes. After that, the UFC said: ‘Merab, January 18,’ and he said yes.
“He’s been saying yes to everybody. He was willing to fight ranked, not ranked. He just wanted to fight.
“He said my goal is 29-0, that is his goal. The camp has just been so great, man, and I really get to see how Khabib is.”
Since retiring, Khabib has become arguably one of the UFC’s best coaches, mentoring the likes of Nurmagomedov and current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
UFC 311 will be Khabib’s busiest-ever jobs due to Nurmagomedov and Makhachev both fighting in the co-main and main events in Inglewood, California.
Makhachev defends his lightweight title for the fourth time on January 19, taking on Arman Tsarukyan in a rematch of the pair’s 2019 encounter.
“Khabib didn’t start starring until his first UFC fight,” Abdelaziz said on the UFC’s former king.
“He did kickboxing, jiu-jutsu, judo, grappling, but Khabib did not spar until his first UFC fight.
“Now every time I see Khabib in training, he reminds me of his father. His father was a lot nicer than him!”
