Kamaru Usman stated his belief that Khabib Nurmagomedov would not have become who he is today without Conor McGregor. The post asked followers whether they agree with Usman's assessment. This opinion touches on the longstanding debate about how much Khabib's rivalry and victory over McGregor contributed to his global superstardom. The post does not provide Usman's full reasoning or context for the statement. It represents Usman's perspective on the interconnected legacies of two of the sport's biggest stars.
Kamaru Usman has weighed in on one of mixed martial arts' most enduring debates, asserting that Khabib Nurmagomedov's rise to global superstardom would not have happened the way it did without Conor McGregor's role in shaping it.
Usman, 39, is a former UFC welterweight champion currently ranked eighth in his division. The Nigerian-born, American-based fighter carries a professional record of 21-4 and has established himself as one of the sport's elite competitors, averaging 4.36 significant strikes per minute at a 52 percent accuracy rate while also threatening on the ground with 2.82 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
Khabib, 37, retired with a perfect 29-0 record and remains one of the most dominant fighters in UFC history. The Russian lightweight was a relentless grappler, averaging 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes, and his 2018 stoppage of McGregor became one of the most-watched events in the sport's history, catapulting him to a level of fame that extended well beyond traditional MMA audiences.
McGregor, also 37, holds a 22-6 record and represents the other half of that equation. The Irish southpaw built his own enormous global profile through his striking output — an average of 5.32 significant strikes per minute — and his ability to generate attention inside and outside the octagon.
Usman's comments did not include detailed reasoning, but the implication is clear: the rivalry between Khabib and McGregor elevated both men in ways that might not have been possible without one another.
Why it matters
- Khabib's retirement kept the debate about his legacy open, and assessments like Usman's continue to shape how the sport remembers him.
- McGregor's commercial pull during their rivalry brought unprecedented mainstream exposure to the UFC.
- Usman's standing as a former pound-for-pound contender gives his opinion weight within the MMA community.
