The controversy sparked by UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov this week continues to escalate. During a recent interaction with PFL socials, ahead of promoting his cousin Usman Nurmagomedov’s third title defense fight against Irish sensation Paul Hughes, ‘The Eagle’ made a bold statement: “Brother, Ireland doesn’t have fighters, brother. Let’s be honest. How many fighters do you know from Ireland?” This comment highlighted the dominance of Dagestani fighters in MMA, both on professional and amateur levels.

While the statement received significant support from fans who admire Khabib Nurmagomedov’s accomplishments, it also drew sharp criticism from key figures in the MMA community, especially Irish representatives like Conor McGregor and Paul Hughes. Hours later, ‘The Eagle’ took to X to defend and expand on his remarks. Doubling down, he claimed Dagestani fighters “dominate amateur MMA” and issued a challenge to organize a “team vs. team” showdown.

What Khabib Nurmagomedov may not have expected, however, was a stinging response from his long-time rival, Tony Ferguson. The two share a well-documented history of ill-fated fight bookings, with their matchup falling through five times—three of which were reportedly due to Nurmagomedov’s side. ‘El Cucuy’ wasted no time in seizing the opportunity, replying with a blistering jab, “Shut up, Fathead 🖕🦹‍♂️. You’re still my b-tch. You fought 2-round ‘pro’ padded fights leading up to the @ufc. Easy to talk when you’re not competing, ya eunuch ✂️🥜. Once a coward, always a coward 🍃. – Champ 🦹‍♂️ – CSO 🇺🇸🏆🇲🇽 #29-1 🍮 … okay, maybe 2.”

Tony Ferguson’s scathing remarks reignited the age-old debate surrounding their rivalry, leaving fans speculating whether Khabib Nurmagomedov would respond to his former adversary. Adding another layer to the drama, Team Khabib’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, entered the fray. Addressing the former interim lightweight champion’s comments, Abdelaziz proposed an alternative matchup featuring Khabib’s cousin and UFC welterweight contender, 35-year-old Abubakar Nurmagomedov. In a tweet, Abdelaziz wrote:  “Now you can fight @TeamKhabib’s brother in GFL @NurmagomedovMMA, punk.”

While Khabib Nurmagomedov’s other cousins, Usman and Umar Nurmagomedov, have made significant strides in MMA, Abubakar Nurmagomedov’s journey has been less celebrated. At 35 years old, Abubakar boasts an impressive background as a three-time Combat Sambo World Championship bronze medalist and a national-level Combat Sambo champion. Despite his accolades in sambo, however, he has struggled to replicate that success in the MMA arena.

Currently competing in the UFC, Abubakar’s performances have been inconsistent. With four fights to his name, he has managed just two victories, both by unanimous decision. The challenges of transitioning from sambo to MMA have raised questions about his struggles in the Octagon. Recently, Khabib Nurmagomedov opened up about the reasons behind his cousin’s underwhelming form. Scroll down to discover who is responsible for Abubakar Nurmagomedov’s bad performance.

Khabib Nurmagomedov blames Demetrious Johnson’s influence on his cousin

What does it take to be successful in MMA? Above all, success requires a tremendous amount of training fueled by discipline—a trait Dagestani fighters have long been known for. This commitment to discipline has been a cornerstone of their success, keeping them at the pinnacle of the sport from the very start. In fact, MMA legend Royce Gracie once credited Dagestani fighters’ dominance to their unwavering discipline, saying, “It’s because of their discipline… they are not thinking about anything else.” However, it seems that for some, this focus might be shifting. The influence of the internet and video games seems to be having an effect on some Dagestani fighters.

A recent example emerged when a video, shared by Flyweight GOAT Demetrious Johnson, showed him and Khabib Nurmagomedov training together with ‘The Eagle’s’ team. What began as playful gaming banter soon evolved into a candid moment where Khabib Nurmagomedov admitted that Abubakar Nurmagomedov, his cousin, often spends a significant amount of time gaming. ‘The Eagle’ jokingly pointed to ‘Mighty Mouse’ as the reason behind Abubakar’s loss in a fight, saying, “Because of you, you take him [Abubakar Nurmagomedov] all the time to game, he lost one fight. I remember, I remember this.”

What do you think of Ali Abdelaziz’s response to Tony Ferguson’s comments on behalf of Khabib Nurmagomedov? Should ‘El Cucuy’ take up the offer to fight Abubakar Nurmagomedov? Given Ferguson’s recent struggles to get back into the UFC spotlight, it could be an intriguing matchup. Do you believe an Abubakar vs. Ferguson fight would deliver what fans are hoping for? Share your thoughts below.