Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA) provides MMA talents a stage to showcase their talents. As such, some top-pedigree wrestlers and ground-control fighters like Carlos Felipe, Michel Prazeres, and Anderson dos Santos have competed at ACA. Such is also the case with ACA middleweight champ Magomedrasul Gasanov. However, Gasanov veers to a greater name — Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The ex-lightweight held quite the undefeated divisional streak at 29-0 MMA and 13-0 UFC. Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from active participation at UFC 254. Yet, even now, ‘The Eagle’ can outgrapple most company standouts. Recently, he out-grappled UFC vet Corey ‘Overtime’ Anderson mercilessly. Gasanov, who wrestled the ‘Eagle,’ pitches his side of the story.
I thought I had great wrestling, until I wrestled with Khabib…Now I understand that I need to work a lot on my wrestling’…this power that Khabib exerts – I have never felt this with any opponenet. Not even close!
Magomedrasul Gasanov via Yuka MMA YT (@yuka_mma)
This is not surprising, given that Islam Makhachev reports Nurmagomedov currently weighs over 200 pounds. Gasanov (20-2-0) bounces and hydrates around 84kg competition weight. Meanwhile, Khabib hedges around 204lbs (93kgs) away from camps. Yet more to it, the Combat Sambo legend has intrinsic top mounts that have proved the end of many opponents.
Gasanov himself is quite the wrestling prodigy as well. Hence, for him to laud a retired fighter speaks volumes about Khabib Nurmagomedov. ESPY’s, Submission of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, and Fight Bonuses; he wins accolades based on his legacy even now. Some yet believe he’ll always be the most dominant.
UFC HOF thinks Khabib Nurmagomedov will be the most dominant wrestler ever
Close friend and Olympian wrestler Daniel Cormier highlights the main difference between Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov. This comes in light of the former’s third title defense at UFC 302: Makhachev vs Poirier, Live from Prudential Center, New Jersey, a fortnight ago. Makhachev and Nurmagomedov have notched triple-title defenses.
Khabib Nurmagomedov (Source: revistagq.com)Nurmagomedov had title defenses against Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje before he retired from the sport. His fierce matchups have set the bar for fighting bases that take the action to the ground. Makhachev recently gave a top-notch performance, both on feet and grappling. Cormier scaled their performances against common opponent Poirier.
I don’t know that it’s fair to compare them, especially based on the common opponent, …because I believe Dustin Poirier was better because he had the opportunity to fight Khabib…He had felt that strength in grappling – and I said I think Islam Makhachev is more dangerous than Khabib because of his striking. But as I reflect on this, …I don’t know if we’ll ever see anyone as dominant as Khabib.
Daniel Cormier via the “Good Guy/Bad Guy” Show
According to Cormier, Makhachev’s readiness for the standup game puts him at risk. Nurmagomedov had a unique but unstoppable way to win fights – spatial control, mount, and utter dominance. Despite not being at the highest spot on pecking orders, Khabib remains a G.O.A.T. candidate because of the sheer mauling that opponents couldn’t ever stop. As such, though he respects Makhachev, ‘DC’ thinks there won’t ever be another ‘Eagle’.
