When Khabib Nurmagomedov turned down “powerful” Saudi men’s $100 million offer to fight Floyd Mayweather


When Khabib Nurmagomedov turned down “powerful” Saudi men’s $100 million offer to fight Floyd Mayweather

Khabib Nurmagomedov was offered to fight Floyd Mayweather (Image Courtesy - Economic Times and Arabian Business)

Khabib Nurmagomedov beating Conor McGregor in 2018 not only made him one of the most popular athletes in the world but also wanted by most billionaires to put on a show for them. One such opportunity knocked on Khabib’s door back in 2019 when he was offered a handsome amount of money to fight legendary boxer, Floyd Mayweather.

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“The Eagle” Khabib Nurmagomedov is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in the sport of mixed martial arts and was also claimed to be the most popular Muslim athlete of all time. The former lightweight champion was highly wanted by some of the most powerful men in Saudi Arabia to fight either Conor McGregor in a rematch or take on Floyd Mayweather in a boxing match as per the Dagestani’s manager’s claims in a TMZ Sports interview.

Ali Abdelaziz, who manages Nurmagomedov, talking to TMZ, said, “They want to pay Khabib a hundred million dollars to fight Floyd in Saudi Arabia.” However, Abdelaziz said at that time the former lightweight champion was not interested in fighting anyone but Tony Ferguson. The fighter was determined to continue to write his legacy as the greatest lightweight of all time in the UFC rather than fighting in a boxing bout.

Fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov wouldn’t have been the first time Mayweather would have taken on an MMA fighter in the boxing ring. Money Mayweather’s boxing match with Conor McGregor back in 2017 opened the doors for several cross-promotional fight ideas. “The Eagle” was however not interested in fighting the boxer and went on to defend his lightweight title fight for another two times after his Conor McGregor win at UFC 229.

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Also Read : “You quit and ran” – Conor McGregor takes jibe at Khabib Nurmagomedov’s “father’s plan” in deleted tweet after rival celebrates “Dagestani takeover”

Here’s why Khabib Nurmagomedov did not want to fight Floyd Mayweather in boxing

Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov

The Eagle retired from professional fighting back in 2020 after his third title defense against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. The fighter went on the Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson show and spoke with the legendary boxer and co-host, Henry Cejudo, who was a former two-division UFC champion. In the podcast, Nurmagomedov was asked to elaborate on why he turned down the Floyd Mayweather fight.

“Of course, money makes sense too. But I never fight for money. Money is good, but most of the time it is bad. Money brings you to a situation that you have never been in, and you don’t know how to act when you have so much money,” said Khabib Nurmagomedov on his huge fight offer. The Dagestani also jokingly said he didn’t want to upset the boxing community.

Also read: Khabib Nurmagomedov’s warning to Conor McGregor made him one of the scariest fighters of all time

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Khabib once again emphasized that he came into the fight business to not make money but to create his own legacy. And he sure did. The fighter would’ve openly welcomed a fight with Mayweather in the MMA octagon but going against “Money” Mayweather in a boxing ring made no sense for Khabib Nurmagomedov.

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