In a sport that seems rife with injuries and comeback stories, it’s hard to find one that fans have been looking forward to more than the return of Khabib Nurmagomedov. “The Eagle” has been out of competition since 2013, when he dismantled current lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos. Since that time, several injuries have sidelined the Dagestani grappling virtuoso, and the division seemed poised to move on without him. At UFC on Fox 19, in Tampa, Florida, Khabib Nurmagomedov returns to action and will attempt to put the 155-pound division back on notice.
All too often in mixed martial arts, grapplers tend to get a bad rap. All-time great Georges St. Pierre was criticized in the later stages of his glittering career for utilizing gameplans that were deemed “too safe” and “boring” to the casual viewer. Khabib Nurmagomedov is the man that flips the notion that wrestlers and grapplers lean toward the mundane end of the style spectrum on its head. This is, after all, a man that wrestled a bear as a child, and isn’t shy when it comes to memorable weigh-in attire.
A multiple time Sambo world champion and Judo black belt, Nurmagomedov is a joy to watch for almost any viewer. Hardcore fans love his smothering, aggressive brand of wrestling, and the more casual audience members get a chance to witness a grappling style that isn’t necessarily built on patience.
To sum up Nurmagomedov in one word or characterization, an apt choice would be “pressure”. Everything he does in the octagon accumulates as pressure; a smothering presence that any fighter can struggle against. Where some grapplers are content to land a takedown and perhaps wait to pass guard or attempt a submission, Nurmagomedov exerts his will in an instant. Against Rafael Dos Anjos, who isn’t a slouch by any means as a mixed martial artist and grappler, Nurmagomedov’s top pressure kept RDA on the defensive for most of the ground segment. Whoever has top position generally has the advantage, but very few fighters in the UFC understand how to properly use that advantage to its full potential like Nurmagomedov. He forces his opponents to carry his full weight and constantly controls their legs; maintaining control of the legs ensures that a proper base cannot be formed and an escape to the feet is highly improbable.
When Nurmagomedov isn’t forcing his opponent into bad positions and threatening them with submissions, he has shown the ability to land close elbows and punches in punishing ground-and-pound combinations. The aggressive nature of his constant pressure means that he can be a threat in any position; in the Dos Anjos fight, he even landed clean, effective shots from within Dos Anjos’ guard and half guard. For long periods of that bout, Dos Anjos just seemed unable to do anything to neutralize Nurmagomedov’s assault; Nurmagomedov allowed Dos Anjos no breathing room to even attempt counter efforts.
To many, Nurmagomedov’s style might seem unrefined, particularly in the striking aspect. There is however, a method to the Dagestan native’s madness. It’s no secret that Nurmagomedov’s grappling is his bread and butter, but it’s important to remember that every fight starts on the feet. Nurmagomedov likes to throw unorthodox strikes; against Dos Anjos he attempted a few flying knees, and often opens a combination with an uppercut. Generally, these aren’t typical opening shots in an exchange; an uppercut is usually the subsequent strike to a hook or cross. The hidden purpose of these types of strikes however, is that it helps Khabib control his opponent’s posture.
At this point, everyone knows that Nurmagomedov is a fantastic grappler; and by virtue of his excellence in that regard, his opponents enter the bout ready to defend takedown attempts by him. These opponents usually adopt a low stance that enables them to sprawl and prevent being dragged to the ground. Nurmagomedov’s upward strikes therefore, force his adversaries to straighten their stance to avoid being on the receiving end of a rising uppercut or knee.
By my reasoning, these type of strikes lead to where Nurmagomedov truly shines: the art of taking down an opponent. To borrow a term adored by Georges St. Pierre, Khabib Nurmgomedov seems to understand how to “shootbox”; the manner of shooting for a takedown after disguising the attempt with feints and strikes. He isn’t a particularly dangerous fighter on his feet (and doesn’t always appear to be the most nimble either), but he has shown keenness to throw a combo that forces his opponents to retreat and then shoot for a takedown while they back pedal. In that arena, Nurmagomedov has a full arsenal to work with; he’s landed single-leg and double-leg takedowns, hip tosses and throws and even the occasional trip or leg sweep.
The Eagle’s return to action seems long overdue, and was almost in danger of being cancelled. Nurmagomedov pulled out of a previously scheduled bout against Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson in December of last year, but it was Ferguson this time around that had to withdraw from their main event bout on April 19th. Luckily, promotional newcomer Darrell Horcher has stepped in to face Nurmagomedov at a catchweight of 160 pounds.
For fans, this booking might seem lackluster in the wake of a bout against Ferguson, whose name has also been discussed with title contention, but for Nurmagomedov, this can only be a positive occurrence. He still gets to make his return to the octagon, against an opponent that is filling in on short notice and at a catchweight several pounds above the usual lightweight limit. Though I believe the concept of ring rust to be little more than a myth, this gives Nurmagomedov a chance to become reacquainted with the idea of competing at the highest level before facing the division’s elite en route to a title shot.
Darrell Horcher definitely shouldn’t be overlooked on Saturday night; no competitor should. Horcher brings a decent 12-1 record with him into the UFC, with 7 of those wins coming via KO/TKO or submission. That being said, there are few men in the world I’d pick to beat Khabib Nurmagomedov, much less on short notice. I expect this to be something of a tune-up fight for the Eagle, who should be a win or two away from a title fight.
