Khabib Nurmagomedov at the UFC 229 press conference, Joe Rogan speaks at UFC 317. Credit: Steven Ryan/Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Joe Rogan insists Khabib Nurmagomedov should’ve retired with 28-1 MMA record: ‘There’s an asterisk’

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Jordan Ellis | Last updated Sep 7, 2025 9:17 AM ET

Joe Rogan has an issue with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s legendary 29-0 record.

MMA fighters retiring undefeated was unheard of until ‘The Eagle’ did it after beating Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in October 2020.

Even the greatest of all time, Jon Jones, has a disqualification defeat on his impeccable MMA resume.

Joe Rogan believes bad judging prevented Khabib Nurmagomedov from losing at UFC 148 in July 2012.

Photo by Donald Miralle/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Joe Rogan questions Khabib Nurmagomedov’s 29-0 record

Gleison Tibau stopped all 13 of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s takedown attempts, landed one of his own, and outstruck the Russian legend to seemingly outpoint him over three rounds.

It was a massive shock when all three UFC 148 judges scored the fight 30-27 in favor of Nurmagomedov.

The decision remains a huge topic of debate among MMA fans a dozen years later. In October 2024, Joe Rogan claimed Nurmagomedov ‘might have lost’ against Tibau during a podcast with Donald Trump.

On Saturday night, the iconic commentator went one step further as he revisited Nurmagomedov’s second UFC fight.

“I think that’s the one guy that should’ve beat him,” Rogan said about Tibau during a UFC Paris Fight Companion.

“If you look at the record, Khabib’s got an undefeated record.

“There’s an asterisk. That asterisk is Gleison Tibau.

“That was a very f—ing close fight that I thought Khabib lost.

“It was early in Khabib’s career. You know, it was before he won the title.”

Joe Rogan backs Sean Strickland for title shot

Joe Rogan made a surprise pitch for Khamzat Chimaev’s first title defense following UFC Paris.

Nassourdine Imavov beat Caio Borralho to seemingly put himself next in line for a shot at the new middleweight champion.

In the eyes of most, Sean Strickland needs to work his way back into contention once he’s served a six-month MMA ban for his role in a viral brawl in June.

The ex-185lb titleholder was battered by Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312 in February.

Still, Rogan believes that he could leapfrog several top contenders and fight Chimaev next.

“Well, who else then? Who’s getting Khamzat next? It really depends what (Reinier De Ridder vs Anthony Hernandez) looks like, right, because this was a f—— war,” Rogan said.

“Interesting, who is the big star behind these guys, behind Imavov… Who’s the big star other than him (that could leapfrog him)? (Sean Strickland) is the biggest star, for sure.

“I wonder if he can get right back in there like that. Does he go right back into a title shot, or does he have to fight somebody?

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

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