Khabib Nurmagomedov Boldly Claims Cousin Usman Better Than Superstar Ilia Topuria

UFC lightweight legend Khabib Nurmagomedov believes that PFL champion and cousin Usman Nurmagomedov is better than Ilia Topuria.

Khabib Nurmagomedov Boldly Claims Cousin Usman Better Than Superstar Ilia Topuria

Khabib Nurmagomedov chooses Usman Nurmagomedov over Ilia Topuria (via MMA Fighting, Instagram)

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There are always debates in MMA when comparing fighters across promotions, especially when both are undefeated and carry the weight of hype behind them. UFC lightweight legend Khabib Nurmagomedov recently weighed in on one such debate when asked about Ilia Topuria and Usman Nurmagomedov. Instead of staying neutral, the ‘Eagle’ made his opinion clear by choosing his cousin as the better fighter.

The UFC legend weighed in on this debate ahead of his cousin’s upcoming rematch against Irishman Paul Hughes. Their first fight ended in a controversial decision in favor of the Dagestani protege. However, Usman is undefeated and is on a 19-fight win streak, and has drawn comparisons to Topuria, who is the UFC lightweight kingpin and is on a 17-fight win streak himself.

While the Dagestani PFL champion’s record is impressive, many don’t regard the level of competition in the PFL compared to the UFC. As many fans have pointed out, Topuria has faced bigger names such as Max Holloway, Alexander Volkanovski, and Charles Oliveira in pursuit of his championship. However, the ‘Eagle’ believed that his cousin is the more “well-rounded fighter” in an interview with PFL.

They have to fight. People can talk; they can say whatever they want. Ilia, Usman. You know, in my opinion, like well-rounded fighter, I think Usman is better.

Khabib Nurmagomedov via PFL MMA

The debate originally stems from Usman’s comments regarding his record being better than Topuria’s. He believed that he was the better lightweight and deserved recognition as the number one lightweight when compared to the Spaniard. However, the MMA community instantly reminded him of the razor-thin decisions that he has won and the competition difference between the promotions.

The young Nurmagomedov carved a championship path for himself in the now-dissolved promotion Bellator. With victories over the likes of Patricky Pitbull, Benson Henderson, and Chris Gonzalez, he cemented himself as one of the most dominant champions of the promotion. However, his career was also tainted with controversy due to a positive drug test, which led to his win against Brent Primus being overturned to a no-contest.

His dominance has caught the eye of hardcore fans and fellow fighters alike, and now, with Khabib backing him publicly, the spotlight on Usman only grows brighter. In the end, the Eagle’s words don’t just elevate Usman; they challenge the idea that UFC stars automatically hold the upper hand. This has kept the cross-promotional debate alive and louder than ever.

Khabib Nurmagomedov predicted Ilia Topuria vs Charles Oliveira perfectly

Predictions in MMA often carry extra weight when they come from someone who has been at the very top, and Khabib Nurmagomedov has developed a reputation for reading fights with accuracy. When discussing the UFC 317 clash between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira, Khabib laid out the exact scenario many fans later saw unfold.

Khabib Nurmagomedov precisely predicted Ilia Topuria's win at UFC 317
Khabib Nurmagomedov precisely predicted Ilia Topuria’s win at UFC 317 (via MMA Mania, Yahoo)

According to Khabib, Topuria’s best chance to win was through a knockout, while Oliveira’s vulnerability had always been getting dropped early in fights. He pointed to examples against Islam Makhachev, Justin Gaethje, and Dustin Poirier to show how often Oliveira has been caught. Khabib doubted Topuria could dominate over five rounds and emphasized how Oliveira’s resilience usually keeps him in the fight.

If Ilia doesn’t knock out Oliveira, I don’t see how he wins five rounds. But Oliveira gets dropped in every fight, and that’s his problem. Islam, Gaethje, and Dustin all dropped him. But compared to those guys, Ilia has a very solid punch. He could put him to sleep. But if he doesn’t knock him out. That’s the question.

Khabib Nurmagomedov via Adam Zubayraev

That analysis proved to be spot-on and strengthened Khabib Nurmagomedov’s image as more than just a former champion but also a sharp analyst of the sport. His breakdown not only reflected Oliveira’s tendencies but also highlighted the kind of challenge fighters like Topuria face when stepping into the cage with a battle-tested veteran.

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