“They don’t stay inside,” Khabib Nurmagomedov HILARIOUSLY reveals difficulty wearing airpods with cauliflower ear

Khabib Nurmagomedov's impressive Octagon feats more than make up for his lack of a well-conformed ear.

“They don’t stay inside,” Khabib Nurmagomedov HILARIOUSLY reveals difficulty wearing airpods with cauliflower ear

What is the story behind the ears of Khabib Nurmagomedov? Can it be fixed? (Source: thesun.co.uk/Pinterest)

Even retired, Khabib Nurmagomedov is a name that rings true to the culture of MMA altogether. The Dagestani fighter was a legend in his own right. At 29-0 MMA and 13-0 UFC, ‘The Eagle’ is the longest reigning undefeated 155lber in promotion history. A running gag within the combat sports bubble runs “never start a fight with someone with a cauliflower ear.” Which concurrently only adds to the savagery and legacy of the fighter.

Away from fighting, the fighter earns accolades based on his illustrious tenure and does social media rounds. He purchased the Russian-based company, Gorilla Fighting Championship and renamed it ‘Eagle Fighting Championship.’ He also corners his friend Islam Makachev. During a 2022 sitdown with the ‘Full Send‘ Podcast, he had to weigh in on whether he can listen properly and if his ears are fixable. He said – 

Of course I can [listen properly]...I think you can fix. I believe you have to make surgery. like this but your ear gonna be more ugly...[on using airpods] No, with headphones I have problem… they don’t stay inside...
Khabib Nurmagomedov via Full Send Podcast
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Khabib has cauliflower ear; also called wrestler’s ear – caused by direct trauma upon the blood vessels of the outer ear. Lacking any bone, it does swell up when these vessels burst, with characteristic deformity of the curvature. There is no probable truth to his legacy coming from the gag of his ears. But his stats would speak otherwise. He is a two-time Combat Sambo Champion and ProFC veteran. Correspondingly, Fight Matrix ranked him as the #1 lightweight of all time.

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Upon his retirement, Nurmagomedov was the pound-for-pound #1 until 2021. He has won World Sports Star of the Year 2020 and Submission of the Year 2021. And also an ESPY Award for best MMA fighter. This was for the round 2 submission of Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, soon after which he retired.

Khabib Nurmagomedov weighs in on the permanency of his retirement

The undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov is still one of the biggest names in sport, even away from the scope of fighting.

Nurmagomedov debuted in 2012, defeating Kamal Shalorus via third-round submission. He went on to put together an impressive winning streak, defeating big-name opponents such as Thiago Tavares, Abel Trujillo, and Pat Healy. After a series of injuries and cancellations, Nurmagomedov finally got his UFC lightweight title shot in April 2018. The lightweight contender faced Al Iaquinta at UFC 223 and won.

Khabib Nurmagomedov weighs in on the seriousness of his retirement
Khabib Nurmagomedov weighs in on the seriousness of his retirement (Source: IMAGO)

After UFC 254, Nurmagomedov announced his retirement. The decision sprouted from personal reasons, including the death of his father and coach, as major factors. Commencing a segment on the ‘Full Send‘ Podcast, here’s what he added on the legitimacy of his retirement:

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Contrary to popular belief, Khabib Nurmagomedov wasn’t in it for some agenda; which he mentioned. It wasn’t to promote an idea or come back for more fight purses. It was pure instinct. He nudged that at the time of retirement, he was in the best of shape so health wasn’t an issue either.

This only speaks further to his resolve as a well-rounded fighter with the apex of slated legacies. Khabib knew his mettle and chose to live on. However, his legacy succeeds beyond him. His cousin Usman Nurmagomedov once said that Khabib’s mental strength and resolve helped him learn important lessons, even without his actual presence.

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