Zubaira Tukhugov says a current-form Khabib Nurmagomedov would have no trouble with Sean Strickland, predicting Khabib would take him down and finish him, while noting he is 99% certain Khabib will never compete again. Tukhugov also addressed his long-running standoff with Artem Lobov, saying Lobov has gone silent and no longer pursues the fight after withdrawing from their scheduled PFL bout when he saw Tukhugov in peak condition at the pre-fight photoshoot. He named Arman Tsarukyan as the one legitimate challenge he would welcome, and confirmed he fights Elvis Brener at an ACB JJ event in Moscow on July 5.
Zubaira Tukhugov has weighed in on a hypothetical clash between the retired Khabib Nurmagomedov and current middleweight champion Sean Strickland, arguing the undefeated Dagestani legend would have little difficulty finishing the American.
Speaking in a recent interview, Tukhugov predicted that a current-form Khabib would take Strickland down and begin dismantling him on the ground. He also acknowledged, however, that he is 99 percent certain Khabib will never compete again.
Khabib Nurmagomedov, 37, retired with a perfect 29-0-0 record and remains one of the most dominant grapplers in MMA history. The orthodox Russian stood five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach, and his numbers reflect his smothering style — an extraordinary 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes combined with 4.1 significant strikes landed per minute and 48 percent striking accuracy.
Sean Strickland, 35, holds the middleweight title with a 31-7-0 record and fights out of Xtreme Couture. The six-foot-one orthodox fighter carries a 76-inch reach — 193 centimeters — and is one of the busiest strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute at 42 percent accuracy. His takedown and submission numbers are modest, at 0.71 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Tukhugov also addressed his drawn-out standoff with Artem Lobov, claiming Lobov withdrew from their scheduled PFL bout after seeing Tukhugov in peak physical condition at the pre-fight photoshoot, and has since gone quiet on pursuing the matchup. Lobov, 39, fights out of SBG Ireland and carries a 13-15-1 record. The southpaw stands five-foot-nine with a 65-inch reach and lands 3.52 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Khabib's 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes would present a stark stylistic contrast to Strickland's grappling-light game
- The Lobov saga appears to have reached a quiet end without a fight ever materializing
- Tukhugov named Arman Tsarukyan as the one opponent he genuinely wants and confirmed he returns to action against Elvis Brener at an ACB JJ event in Moscow on July 5
