Khabib Nurmagomedov's former opponent recalls fight with Russian: 'He looked like a middleweight'

K. Nurmagomedov retired from MMA in 2020. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

PUBLICITY:

One of the most dominant performances of his career Khabib Nurmagomedov took place at UFC 205, the organization's first event in New York, in November 2016. On that occasion, the Russian won Michael Johnson with a third-round submission with a kimura, but what caught the most attention in the fight was a moment in which the Eagle asked the North American to give up, arguing that he deserved to fight for the lightweight belt (up to 70,3 kg.)

See too

Makhachev taunts Merab Dvalishvili with photo at UFC Performance Institute

Alexander Volkanovski reveals he would fight Poatan under one condition; see

Paddy Pimblett hints that his next opponent will be Michael Chandler

UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor

November 12th, 2016.

Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Michael Johnson pic.twitter.com/UJidGAaIKH

— Mixed Martial Aus (@MixedMartialAus) June 23, 2024

More than eight years later, Johnson recalled the experience during a chat with the former UFC fighter, Mike Perry, on the North American podcast Overdogs. According to the athlete, even though the fight situation was completely unfavorable, at no point was the possibility of giving up taken into consideration.

“I was like, ‘F***!’ I hit him with a punch like, ‘I’m still in it! I can’t move, but I’m in it!’ I wasn’t going to give up. He’s good. I went into that fight, all I was thinking about was his grappling. So I wasn’t thinking about myself and that was my mistake. You know, I just went in there waiting for him to take me down. Trying to find my moves. He’s good and strong, he looked like a middleweight. That’s a problem. I couldn’t move,” the fighter said.

That same night, in the main fight, Conor McGregor knocked out Eddie Alvarez in the second round and became the first fighter to hold belts in two UFC weight classes simultaneously. Two years later, Nurmagomedov and the Irishman would star in the event with the highest number of package sales pay per view of all time.

C. Mcgregor (left) and K. Nurmagomedov (right). Photo: Reproduction/Twitter UFC

PUBLICITY:

Michael Johnson is still in the UFC

Even at 38 years old and present in the UFC since 2010, Michael Johnson shows no signs of intending to retire. The American is coming off a victory in the last event of 2024, the UFC Tampa, against Ottman azaitar. He won by knockout in the second round.

UFC Veteran Michael Johnson wins by knockout in UFC Tampa. photo: UFC News