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As Usman Nurmagomedov prepares to defend his Bellator lightweight title against Paul Hughes at the Bellator Champions Series: Road to Dubai on January 25, his cousin and UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov has made it clear where he stands on the quality of Irish MMA.
Khabib, known for his legendary rivalry with Ireland’s Conor McGregor, dismissed the idea of Irish MMA standing on par with fighters from Dagestan. The matchup between Usman Nurmagomedov (18-0) and Paul Hughes (13-1) is being touted as the next chapter in the regional feud. Still, Khabib sees little comparison between the two nations in terms of talent.
“Ireland don’t have fighters, brother,” Khabib stated in an interview with PFL. “Let’s be honest: How many fighters from Ireland? Paul Hughes and Conor. Who else? There is no fighters, brother. You come to Dagestan, you can understand. So many organizations, they don’t even want to sign Dagestan fighters because they worry about like, everybody can become champion.”
Khabib’s words reflect the dominant culture of MMA in Dagestan, which has produced elite fighters like Islam Makhachev, Umar Nurmagomedov, and Gadzhi Rabadanov, many of whom are under his mentorship. In contrast, he believes Ireland offers few notable athletes in the sport, despite Hughes’ rising star and McGregor’s established legacy.
“Let’s be honest: Dagestan level of MMA here (up high),” Khabib said. “But Ireland level, like not even half of Dagestan level.”
Since retiring from competition in 2020, Khabib has transitioned into coaching, becoming a key figure behind the success of Dagestan fighters. With a wealth of experience and access to the region’s top talent, Khabib’s confidence in Dagestan’s MMA superiority remains unshaken.
As Usman and Hughes clash in Dubai, fans can expect not just a title fight, but another chapter in the rivalry between Dagestan and Ireland—a narrative that continues to fuel the global MMA landscape.
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