Khabib Nurmagomedov prepares to face Dustin Poirier at UFC 242, inset mystery icon. Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Khabib Nurmagomedov names his 3 favorite fighters and admits meeting them was ‘very emotional’ for him

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Kyle Dimond | Last updated Sep 16, 2025 1:19 PM ET

Khabib Nurmagomedov revealed which three fighters he liked to watch the most when coming up in the sport.

While Joe Rogan has disputed Nurmagomedov’s undefeated status, the former UFC lightweight champion has still left behind an incredible legacy.

‘The Eagle’ retired in 2020 while still being on top of the sport as one of the most dominant forces that we have ever seen in MMA.

Members of his team have continued to achieve incredible things, with Nurmagomedov recently comparing his cousin to Ilia Topuria.

While the Russian icon will have inspired countless fighters through his own career, there were three names in particular that he looked up to before he ever put on a pair of UFC gloves.

Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images

Khabib Nurmagomedov lists his 3 favorite fighters that were in their primes when he was a teenager

On the debut episode of Wahed’s ‘The Muslim Money Experts’ that was released in October of 2022, Khabib Nurmagomedov was a guest on the show.

The topic turned to speaking about people’s favorite fighters early on in the conversation, where ‘The Eagle’ went on to name the fighters that he enjoyed watching the most when he was a teenager.

Nurmagomedov specifically recalled that there were three main names that he looked up to at the top of the sport when he was a teenager.

In 2005, the rough timeframe that the Russian is drawing from, both the UFC and Pride held 10 events that featured many legends of the sport.

Nurmagomedov drew from both promotions when naming two former UFC champions and Hall of Famers alongside a man that many believe to be the greatest fighter to have never competed inside the Octagon.

“When I grew up, it was two, maybe three favorite fighters. When I was 16, they were in their prime. It was Fedor [Emelianenko], it was Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua and Georges St-Pierre. It was those three guys. They were in their prime. UFC and Pride champions, I grew up watching their fights and when I met them first, it was very emotional for me because I grew up with their fights.”

Khabib Nurmagomedov made an important distinction before naming his favorite fighters

When the subject of favorite fighters first came up on the podcast episode, Khabib Nurmagomedov made an important distinction.

One of the hosts of the show named Muhammad Ali as his personal pick, admitting that he’s only become more familiar with mixed martial arts in recent years.

Nurmagomedov was unsurprised to hear this answer considering how popular and legendary the former boxer is.

‘The Eagle’ remarked that when he asks people who their favorite fighter is, he always adds aside from Ali, in order to make the conversation less predictable.

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

More must-reads: