Zubaira Tukhugov says a current-day Khabib Nurmagomedov would dominate Sean Strickland with ease, predicting Khabib would take him down and finish him, while noting he is 99% certain Khabib will never compete again. Tukhugov claims Artem Lobov withdrew from their scheduled PFL fight after seeing him in peak physical condition at a pre-fight photo session, and says Lobov has since gone silent, neither reaching out to promotions nor responding to messages. He identified Arman Tsarukyan as the one genuinely compelling challenge for him at lightweight, and confirmed he will compete against Elvis Brener at an ACB JJ tournament in Moscow on July 5.
Zubaira Tukhugov made headlines this week with a series of bold claims in a recent interview, sounding off on Khabib Nurmagomedov's hypothetical return, Artem Lobov's withdrawal from their planned PFL bout, and his own ambitions at lightweight.
On the subject of his unbeaten teammate, Tukhugov was emphatic. Nurmagomedov, who retired with a perfect 29-0 record, carries one of the most dominant grappling resumes in MMA history, averaging an extraordinary 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. The 37-year-old Russian was never taken down with any regularity and finished opponents at will. Tukhugov predicted that a present-day Khabib would take Sean Strickland down and finish him with ease — while also conceding he is 99 percent certain his fellow Dagestani will never compete again.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, carries a 31-7 record and leads all fighters in striking volume, throwing at a rate of 6.04 significant strikes per minute with a 76-inch reach. The 35-year-old American has built his reputation on relentless forward pressure and sharp boxing, but Tukhugov suggested that output would count for little against Khabib's suffocating wrestling.
The more personal flashpoint in the interview concerned Lobov. Tukhugov claimed the 39-year-old Irishman, who holds a 13-15-1 record and stands five-foot-nine with a 65-inch reach, pulled out of their scheduled PFL contest after seeing Tukhugov in peak shape at a pre-fight photo session. He says Lobov has since gone silent, not responding to messages or approaching any promotions to reschedule the matchup.
Looking ahead within his own division, Tukhugov named Arman Tsarukyan as the one fight that genuinely excites him at lightweight. More immediately, he confirmed he will compete against Elvis Brener at an ACB Jiu-Jitsu tournament in Moscow on July 5.
Why it matters
- Tukhugov's Lobov comments keep a high-profile grudge match in public view without a promoter attached
- Khabib-Strickland remains a fantasy matchup across two different weight classes, adding important context to any such comparison
- Naming Tsarukyan signals Tukhugov's competitive ambitions remain firmly at the top of the lightweight division
