What Records Can Khabib Nurmagomedov Break at UFC 254?

After almost a year of inactivity, Khabib Nurmagomedov will grace UFC fans with his presence inside the octagon. ‘The Eagle‘ will attempt to ward off his twenty-ninth challenger and etch his name amongst the greatest fighters of all time. Furthermore, he will have some records in his sight when he steps into the cage on Fight Island. 

Most UFC lightweight title wins by submission

Khabib Nurmagomedov has won two of his three title fights via submission. The first of these came at UFC 229 after he tapped out Conor McGregor. In the following year, he ended Dustin Poirier’s dreams of becoming the first man to beat him. As a result of his win at UFC 242, ‘The Eagle’ tied Anthony Pettis for the most submission wins in lightweight title fights. 

Given his propensity for wrestling and unwavering style in the face of any opponent, it seems unlikely that he would deviate from the tried and tested pattern. It will be tough for Justin Gaethje to survive the relentless grappling pressure, and Nurmagomedov could have the submission record to himself at the conclusion of UFC 254. 

Most consecutive lightweight wins

Given the fact that the Dagestani fighter entered the promotion with a massive 16-0 win streak, he has always had a huge target on his back. Despite this, Nurmagomedov is undefeated in the division. In addition to his wins in three title fights, he has overcome the likes of Rafael dos Anjos, Edson Barboza, and Michael Johnson. 

‘The Eagle’ has claimed 12 UFC wins to take his tally to 28-0; 11 of them have come at 155 pounds. A win on Fight Island will see him tie Tony Ferguson’s record of 12 wins. He has overcome the odds successfully on multiple occasions and ensured that his name will not be forgotten. However, having his arm raised at the Flash Forum will be the icing on the cake. 

Lightweight Title fight wins

Currently, Nurmagomedov has three wins in lightweight title fights. These have come against Al Iaquinta, Conor McGregor, and Dustin Poirier. He is tied with Frankie Edgar and Jens Pulver. A win against ‘The Highlight’ would see him break the three-way tie and join Benson Henderson and B. J. Penn at four. 

This would put him on another three-way tie, but it would be for the top spot. Hence, such a win will only enhance an already incredible legacy. Furthermore, it will provide the appropriate setup for his thirtieth and final fight. 

Read: “That’s What His Father Wanted”- Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Coach Opens Up On Khabib Nurmagomedov and His Future

Total Control time

Khabib Nurmagomedov seeks to land a quick takedown and squeeze the energy out of his opponents. To achieve this goal, he quickly darts for the ankle and maneuvers the opposing fighter to the fence. This is where he is at his most dangerous, as in addition to draining them, he can engage in a brutal ground and pound style offense.

In all his fights at lightweight, ‘The Eagle’ has had a whopping 1:28:13 of control time. This puts him at third in the standings behind Gleison Tibau and Clay Guida. 

Guida holds the record control time of 1:46:24. Given that a championship fight lasts for 25 minutes, ‘The Eagle’ has all the time he needs to secure the 18-minutes of control time needed to claim the record. 

If he claims this record at UFC 254, it will have been an absolute masterclass against a robust opponent who many believe has what it takes to block takedowns. 

Read: Justin Gaethje Says “I’m Screwed” If Khabib Nurmagomedov Puts Him on the Fence

Total top position time

A common feature of Nurmagomedov’s fights is his top control time. Currently, he has 1:03:33 of top control time over his opponents and is a whole 17 minutes behind Clay Guida. 

Like with control time, ‘The Eagle’ has sufficient time to make this record his own. However, he has a massive roadblock in front of him. Justin Gaethje represents the immovable object before the unstoppable force in Nurmagomedov.

‘The Highlight’ sits on third for bottom position time in the UFC lightweight division with 17 seconds. In contrast, ‘The Eagle’ sits at eighth in the list. Past fights are no indicator of what will happen, but they are definitely a sign of what each fighter is capable of.  While Nurmagomedov may not break the record, one can expect ‘The Highlight’ to be off the bottom position time list come Monday unless there is a shocking turn of events in the Flash Forum. 

How many of these records do you see Khabib Nurmagomedov equaling or breaking at UFC 254?

Read: UFC 254 -When and Where to Watch?