UFC lightweight Brad Riddell spoke to Submission Radio and talked about his upcoming bout against Rafael Fiziev at UFC Vegas 44. The City Kickboxing fighter had a lot to say about his opponent as both men also share history through sparring. Additionally, he also talked about the fight game as a whole and went over how some fighters absorb too much damage.
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Chiefly, he lauded Khabib Nurmagomedov for his ability to leave the fight game at the right time. Riddell believes that Nurmagomedov’s exit from the UFC was perfect as he didn’t absorb hellacious amounts of damage in his career. Not to mention, he left when he was on top and is still considered the best lightweight fighter on the planet by many.
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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES SEPTEMBER 7, 2019: UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov at a news conference after defending his title in a bout against interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier at the UFC 242 mixed martial arts tournament. Valery Sharifulin/TASS (Photo by Valery SharifulinTASS via Getty Images)
“You don’t just lose the fight. You lose a bunch of years off your life, man. There’s no way Max [Holloway] and Yair [Rodriguez] walked out with the same brain cells as when they went into it. That was an insane fight and they keep getting crazier and crazier. Like lately I don’t know why, but it’s just been a surge and ruthless fight…It’s a smart man’s game.”
“Khabib [Nurmagomedov] had a pretty good career man. He went in there pretty untouched and came out pretty untouched. He left with a lot of money and a lot of fame, so he did it the right way.”
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Khabib Nurmagomedov: A legacy defined
‘The Eagle’ truly made sure he walked away on his own terms and never compromised on the over-arching legacy. Nurmagomedov retired with an unblemished 29-0 record and defended his lightweight strap three times. He held off names like Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje during his illustrious name.
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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – OCTOBER 25: In this handout image provided by UFC, (R-L) Khabib Nurmagomedov of Russia takes down Justin Gaethje in their lightweight title bout during the UFC 254 event on October 25, 2020 on UFC Fight Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Despite cutting short his career, fans can’t seem to move past the legacy he has built. Many believe that if Nurmagomedov were to return after an indefinite lay-off, he would still brutalize anyone who held the title. Given the way Khabib Nurmagomedov manhandled all his opponents, such a claim is not too bizarre.
Where do you stand on the issue of fighters staying in the sport too long? Do you think Khabib Nurmagomedov got out in time? Let us know in the comments section.
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