Zubaira Tukhugov says Khabib Nurmagomedov trains twice a day and is ready to fight anyone, predicting he would dominate Sean Strickland with ease if he ever competed again. Tukhugov also addressed his long-running standoff with Artem Lobov, saying Lobov went silent after seeing Tukhugov in top shape before their scheduled PFL bout. He named Arman Tsarukyan as the one legitimate challenge for him at lightweight, and confirmed he faces Elvis Brenner at ACB JJ in Moscow on July 5.
Zubaira Tukhugov has offered a bold prediction about his Dagestani teammate Khabib Nurmagomedov, claiming the retired legend would dominate current middleweight champion Sean Strickland if he ever chose to return to competition.
Speaking in a recent interview, Tukhugov described Khabib as training twice a day and fully prepared to fight anyone. He predicted the undefeated former lightweight king would take Strickland down and, in his words, begin to systematically dismantle him. Khabib, now 37, retired in October 2020 with a perfect 29-0 record. His grappling credentials back the confidence: he averaged 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career, with a striking accuracy of 48 percent and 4.1 significant strikes landed per minute.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion at 35 years old, carries a 31-7 record and is known for his relentless volume output, averaging 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute. The American stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and trains out of Xtreme Couture.
Tukhugov also addressed his prolonged standoff with Artem Lobov, claiming the 39-year-old Irishman went silent after seeing Tukhugov in peak physical condition ahead of their planned PFL meeting. Lobov, a southpaw fighting out of SBG Ireland, holds a 13-15-1 professional record and has a 65-inch reach.
On the lightweight landscape, Tukhugov identified Arman Tsarukyan as the one genuine threat to him in the division. He also confirmed he has an immediate booking: a grappling match against Elvis Brenner at ACB JJ in Moscow on July 5.
Why it matters
- Khabib's name continuing to circulate keeps retirement speculation alive, regardless of his own public statements
- The Lobov situation suggests their long-delayed matchup remains unresolved
- Tukhugov naming Tsarukyan as his legitimate lightweight challenge signals ambitions at the top of the 155-pound division
