Zubaira Tukhugov has given his assessment of Khabib Nurmagomedov's current training level, saying the retired champion trains twice a day and is ready to fight anyone, though Tukhugov believes a return is 99% unlikely. Tukhugov said that if Khabib were to face Sean Strickland, he would barely feel him, predicting Khabib would take him down immediately and dominate. Tukhugov also addressed the long-running situation with Artem Lobov, saying Lobov has gone silent and no longer responds to messages about a potential fight, and that he considers Arman Tsarukyan a more meaningful challenge for himself. Tukhugov is scheduled to compete against Elvis Brener at an ACB JJ event in Moscow on July 5.
Zubaira Tukhugov has offered a candid take on Khabib Nurmagomedov's current condition and theoretical matchup potential, weighing in on the retired champion's readiness while also addressing his own unfinished business with Artem Lobov.
Speaking publicly ahead of his scheduled grappling appearance at an ACB JJ event in Moscow on July 5, Tukhugov said Khabib — who retired with a perfect 29-0 record — still trains twice a day and is physically prepared to face anyone. Despite that, Tukhugov put the probability of an actual return at 99 percent against, making clear he does not expect The Eagle to compete again.
That did not stop Tukhugov from mapping out a hypothetical. Asked about a matchup between Khabib and current middleweight champion Sean Strickland, Tukhugov said the 37-year-old Russian would barely register Strickland's offense, predicting an immediate takedown followed by total domination. Strickland, who carries a 31-7 record and leads active middleweights in striking output at 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute, would have a clear size advantage at six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach. Khabib, meanwhile, built his legacy largely on the ground, averaging 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career — a number that sits among the highest ever recorded.
Tukhugov also brought up the ongoing situation with Artem Lobov, the 39-year-old Irishman who holds a 13-15-1 professional record. According to Tukhugov, Lobov has gone silent and stopped responding to messages regarding a potential fight between the two. Tukhugov indicated he no longer considers the bout a priority, naming Arman Tsarukyan as a more worthwhile target for his own career.
Why it matters
- Khabib's training status resurfaces retirement return speculation, even as those close to him consider it nearly impossible
- Tukhugov's comments on Strickland highlight the stylistic chasm between elite wrestling and high-volume striking
- The Lobov standoff appears to have reached a dead end, with Tukhugov now pivoting toward higher-profile opposition
