Justin Gaethje Admits Khabib Nurmagomedov Was Unbeatable after His Father’s Passing

Former interim 155lbs champion Justin Gaethje weighs in on Khabib Nurmagomedov's dominance in his 29th and final bout at UFC 254.

Justin Gaethje Admits Khabib Nurmagomedov Was Unbeatable after His Father’s Passing

Justin Gaethje doesn't think anybody could have beaten Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254 (via MMA Fighting)

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Khabib Nurmagomedov’s final and 29th MMA fight came against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi, where he defended his lightweight title for the third time in dominant fashion. The Dagestani champion once again displayed his world-class grappling, securing a second-round triangle choke submission to retain his belt.

The bout served as an emotional farewell, with both fighters showing deep mutual respect after the contest. Many had believed Gaethje’s amatuer wrestling background could pose problems for Nurmagomedov, but the Dagestani’s relentless pressure and elite grappling quickly neutralized his opponent’s strengths, leading to a decisive victory.

Recently, Gaethje reflected on that iconic fight, offering heartfelt praise for Nurmagomedov and acknowledging the his greatness in what became one of the most memorable moments in UFC history.

No man on earth was beating Khabib that night, he was fighting for something far greater. 

Justin Gaethje via X

For Nurmagomedov, the fight was emotionally difficult as he had lost his father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, just months earlier due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Despite his grief, ‘The Eagle’ honored a promise to his mother, agreeing to step into the Octagon for one final bout.

After securing victory, Nurmagomedov broke down in tears, overwhelmed by emotion, while Gaethje showed true sportsmanship, comforting the champion. 

I lost the fight so I was very upset. I understood what he was going through. Everything was very public, I knew his father had just passed away in the last month or two. I can imagine how emotional that could be. …I went to him and said, ‘I think you just made your dad pretty happy.’ 

Justin Gaethje via X

Nurmagomedov expressed gratitude to Gaethje, appreciating his support during one of Khabib’s earlier training camps in the past. The former 155lbs kingpin later revealed he avoided injuring Gaethje in front of his parents, opting for a submission choke. Nurmagomedov also acknowledged Gaethje’s striking prowess, admitting the American hits extremely hard, showing immense respect for his formidable stand-up skills. 

With that final win, the Dagestani retired with an undefeated record of 29-0, with many analysts believing he still had potential left in MMA. Dana White tried extensively to convince the Dagestani to return in a superfight against Georges St-Pierre, but Nurmagomedov remained steadfast in his decision to retire permanently. Since hanging up his gloves, the UFC Hall of Famer has focused on coaching and mentoring his teammates.

Belal Muhammad talks about Khabib Nurmagomedov’s comeback as a coach at UFC 321

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s biggest achievement as a coach was making Islam Makhachev the lightweight champion back in UFC 280. Since then, Makhachev has vacated the belt and is scheduled to fight for the welterweight title at UFC 322.

Nurmagomedov wanted to do the same with Umar Nurmagomedov, but the fighter failed to get the title at UFC 311, where he lost to Merab Dvalishvili in a bantamweight title bout.

Khabib Nurmagomedov with Umar Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov with Umar Nurmagomedov (via Instagram)

It was a disappointing moment for Team Khabib as the Georgian made fun of Dagestani dominance. Now, ‘Young Eagle’ is scheduled to fight Mario Bautista this Saturday at UFC 321. Going into the fight, ‘The Eagle’ has planned for the 135-pounder to bounce back. Former UFC champion Belal Muhammad talked about this bout and shared his opinion.

It being in Dubai, I think it’s gonna play huge in Umar’s favour. He’s been out there doing his whole camp with Khabib as the main coach. Khabib is like the craziest coach — he’s gonna push him harder than he’s ever been pushed before, especially coming off his first loss.

Belal Muhammad via No Scripts 

Umar Nurmagomedov is confident about defeating Bautista and is eager to settle the score with Dvalishvili in their unresolved rivalry. Fans are anticipating a heated rematch between Umar and Dvalishvili, hoping to witness the continuation of their competitive history. Before that clash, it will be fascinating to observe how Khabib Nurmagomedov guides Umar, preparing him for the challenge.

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