What a difference one year can make.
That’s what Khabib Nurmagomedov points out, as he talks about his cousin and UFC bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov.
In January, Umar (19-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) lost a closely-contested decision to champion Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311. With a rematch seemingly inevitable, Khabib indicated he likes Umar’s progress and what he showed in his recent win vs. Mario Bautista at UFC 320.
Still, the best is yet to come, said Khabib.
“He performed amazing,” Khabib recently said in an interview with Josh Thomson. “But I believe he has much more than he showed that night against Bautista. Bautista had very good skills. Eight (fight) win streak. How many times can you say somebody in the UFC has eight (fight) winning streak. Bautista was top guy for coming back after loss. He showed an amazing job. I really like his energy right before the fight. Fight week, he was a much, much different fighter than almost one year ago. I really liked the way he performed. He’s coming. He’s on the way. He’s on the way to be a UFC champion. It’ll be very hard to stop him.”
The bantamweight championship will be on the line Dec. 6 at UFC 323 in Las Vegas with a main event bout scheduled between Dvalishvili (21-4 MMA, 14-2 UFC) and Petr Yan (19-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC). Will Umar get the winner? Maybe. But Khabib has learned not to take anything for granted.
“UFC never guarantees somebody something,” Khabib said. “You never know. This is the way how I have experience with UFC about timing and about opportunity. If they give you something, you have to take it, you know? Nobody can say, ‘UFC, you have to do this. You guarantee this.’ I told my guys, ‘When opportunity comes, you have to go and get it. Otherwise, it’ll never work.’ I’m sure Umar is good with this. Umar said, ‘If they give me a title shot, I’m going to fight. If not, give me anybody.’ I really like he’s confident about this.”
Whether it’s Dvalishvili or Yan who enters 2026 possessing gold, Khabib does not care. He predicts Umar will face both men. It’s not a matter of if but when.
“It’s good question, honestly. It’s a very good question,” Khabib said. “If somebody asks me, ‘Coach, what do you want?’ I want both of them. I want, before Umar finishes his career, he fight with Merab and Petr Yan. This two fighters on top of this game of this division. I really want Umar to fight with Petr Yan, Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley – these three guys.
