The Undisputed UFC Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov shared his thoughts on the comparison made with the great Muhammad Ali and said it’s wrong.
The Russian Champ Nurmagomedov is a devoted Muslim and regularly practices his faith outside the octagon. Khabib is often compared to Ali, who went through similar struggles in his career and life due to his religion and race. Khabib Nurmagomedov is himself regarded as one of the best in his sport, however, when compared with the late boxing legend, Nurmagomodov does not like the idea and says that it is “Inappropriate”.
Though he likes the idea of being compared with “The Greatest”, but says that Ali went through so many struggles in his time. Nurmagomedov thinks that Muhammad Ali was a class in himself, one who is still admired and is an iconic figure.
Khabib Nurmagomedov talks about comparison with Muhammad Ali
Khabib Nurmagomedov was recently asked by a reporter “Many fans are increasingly comparing you to Muhammad Ali. Do you like this comparison?”
To which Khabib replied “I think comparing Ali and me is probably wrong,” Khabib explained. “Only if we talk about the fact that we are both champions and both Muslims. But all the thing she did outside of the ring with this I cannot be compared.“Indeed, at the time when he was a champion, he was… another race. And at that time in America, black people were treated badly. And according to his stories, he was not even served in restaurants. He threw away the gold medal. He changed his attitude towards his race very much. So we cannot be compared.”
To be able to compare me with him (Ali), I need to go back to those years and be black. And be a champion. After we would see how I would behave in such a situation. In this case, we could be compared.”
Nurmagomedov is yet to fight in the UFC this year due to the coronavirus pandemic in addition to the death of his father, Abdulmanap. Khabib Nurmagomedov is 28-0 MMA is set to return to the Octagon at next month’s UFC 254 event for a lightweight title unification bout with current interim champion Justin Gaethje. Khabib Nurmagomedov is gearing up for what could be his toughest challenge to date.
Although the same has been said several times before, Justin Gaethje is on a different level. After his last win over Khabib’s biggest challenge Tony Ferguson, who was finished by Gaethje in the fifth round. Justin Gaethje is ready to pull out another upset if he beats one of the greatest MMA fighters period that is Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Now the entire MMA world is eagerly waiting for the day to arrive when two of the greatest lightweights will stand face to face against each other at UFC 254.
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