Zubaira Tukhugov has stated that Khabib Nurmagomedov, despite training twice daily and remaining in elite shape, is 99 percent certain never to compete again. Tukhugov added that if Khabib did fight, he would have little trouble with Sean Strickland, predicting he would take him down and finish him. Tukhugov also expressed interest in a future grappling matchup with Arman Tsarukyan, calling him the one genuine challenge in the lightweight division. Tukhugov is set to compete in a grappling match against Elvis Brener at ACB JJ in Moscow on July 5.
Zubaira Tukhugov made headlines this week when he weighed in on the prospect of a Khabib Nurmagomedov return, dismissing any realistic chance of it happening while still predicting how it would play out against a current champion.
Tukhugov stated that Khabib, despite continuing to train twice a day and maintaining elite physical condition, is 99 percent certain to never compete again. That did not stop him from forecasting the outcome if the undefeated Russian did step back into competition, saying Khabib would take Sean Strickland down and finish him without much difficulty.
Khabib retired with a perfect 29-0-0 record and remains one of the most dominant grapplers the sport has ever produced. The 37-year-old Russian averaged an extraordinary 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career, a figure that underlines why Tukhugov would frame any matchup through a wrestling lens.
Strickland, the current middleweight champion, carries a 31-7-0 record and is one of the most active strikers in his division. The 35-year-old American out of Xtreme Couture lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute, and his 76-inch reach, stretching to 193 cm, gives him considerable range. His takedown defense would be the central question in any hypothetical clash with a wrestler of Khabib's caliber.
Tukhugov also turned attention to his own competitive future, expressing genuine interest in a grappling matchup with Arman Tsarukyan, describing him as the one authentic challenge available in the lightweight division. Before that conversation goes any further, Tukhugov is scheduled to compete in a grappling match against Elvis Brener at ACB JJ in Moscow on July 5.
Why it matters
- Khabib's retirement status remains a recurring topic, and teammates speaking publicly keeps speculation alive
- Strickland's middleweight title run puts him in the conversation whenever dominant grapplers are discussed
- A Tukhugov-Tsarukyan grappling match would pit two elite lightweight wrestlers against each other
