Watch: When Khabib Nurmagomedov Faced His Only Career Loss in Combat Sambo in a Dagestan vs. Chechnya Matchup

Khabib Nurmagomedov retired undefeated in his professional MMA career. The 29-0 fighter from Dagestan came to the UFC and absolutely conquered the lightweight division with his skills. But was it all always that way?

Nurmagomedov’s amateur career in Dagestan and his early days feel like foreign territory to many who haven’t dived deep into the fighter’s past. In his early days, it’s likely that ‘The Eagle’ struggled a lot while he was still learning the art of fighting. So, to shed some light on it, here’s an old video of Nurmagomedov getting dominated.

Old video of Khabib Nurmagomedov losing via decision resurfaces

Khabib Nurmagomedov has never lost a single professional fight in MMA. But back in the day, when he was trying to master Sambo, there was some struggle. A video of him participating in a bout has recently resurfaced, where a young Nurmagomedov can be seen struggling against an aggressive opponent.

As soon as the round starts, ‘The Eagle’ who was in blue finds a worthy match. His opponent in red lights him up with several significant strikes as the matches goes further. Round after round, it would seem that Nurmagomedov was being out-struck and his takedown attempts were being thwarted with a certain swiftness. Eventually, the referee declares Nurmagomedov’s opponent, Magomed Ibragimov as the winner via decision.

Allegedly, this is his only loss in his career. Clearly, ‘The Eagle’ has come a long way from then. The video is reportedly from a Sambo tournament that Nurmagomedov participated in when he was merely 17 years of age. His opponent from Chechnya was reportedly 20 years of age then.

Today, he is one of the most celebrated names in not only Dagestan but the whole wide world. Nurmagomedov has since retired from the MMA world entirely. He spends his days coaching and working his farms in Dagestan. Will he ever make a comeback?

Will Nurmagomedov ever return to the cage?

In his own words, “. . . it doesn’t make sense to me. People want to see this. People want drama, people want the movie to keep continuing. Right now, I am full,”  Nurmagomedov told David Patrick-Bet in an interview. He has also stepped away from the cage to care for his family, something he’s not planning to sacrifice any time soon.

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Nurmagomedov is a deeply family-oriented man who gave up the gloves once his father passed away. His fights with Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, and especially Conor McGregor will forever be cited as some of the most entertaining. While fans would thoroughly enjoy a returning Khabib Nurmagomedov versus a returning Conor McGregor, that dream shall, unfortunately, only remain one watched with eyes closed shut.

Also Read: “Be a Champion”- Amid Distraughtful Phase, Khabib Nurmagomedov Becomes a Source of Inspiration for Family and Teammates