Khabib Nurmagomedov Explains Why He’ll 'Never' Be Friends With Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje

However, Khabib Nurmagomedov later admitted that he refused to tap because his father watched from the crowd that night. Soon after, he shifted the momentum and finished Dustin Poirier with a triangle choke. A similar story unfolded against Justin Gaethje. Khabib faced the bout at an incredibly difficult time, just weeks after his father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, passed away due to COVID-19.

Carrying that anger and grief into the UFC 254 title unification fight, Khabib absorbed Gaethje’s heavy strikes and powerful kicks, which dominated the first round. But in the second round, Khabib applied relentless pressure, earned a takedown, and submitted Gaethje with a triangle choke.

Over time, the MMA star has kept a very small inner circle. Earlier in his career, though, Khabib Nurmagomedov did not always draw such firm personal boundaries. He once shared a cordial relationship with Conor McGregor before their rivalry spiraled into one of the UFC’s most bitter feuds.

Nurmagomedov clarifies his stance on being friends with Jon Jones

Khabib Nurmagomedov also refuses to be friends with anyone who rivals his allies. That’s why he avoids forming bonds with anyone closely connected to his competitors. For instance, he shut down talk of a friendship with Jon Jones and later distanced himself from former teammate Josh Thomson after Thomson collaborated with Conor McGregor.

Nurmagomedov has always avoided the kinds of mistakes that Josh Thomson made, which caused friction for years. Thomson counted former UFC double champion Daniel Cormier as a close friend, and the two were once top prospects at AKA at the same time. Nurmagomedov has also respected Cormier’s rival, Jon Jones as he tweeted about him after Jones retired.

“I never had any disagreements with Jones,” Khabib wrote on Instagram, responding to a clip of Jones naming him as an all-time top-five UFC fighter. “As a fighter, he is great, and it will be hard to match him. But my friend Cormier is in conflict with him, so Jones can’t be my friend. I don’t befriend those who aren’t friends with my friends.”