Khabib Nurmagomedov: I’m a better wrestler today than during UFC title reign

Khabib Nurmagomedov claims his wrestling and grappling abilities have improved significantly since his 2020 retirement from the UFC, suggesting he never reached his true prime during his championship reign. The undefeated Hall of Famer retired at age 32 following a title defense against Justin Gaethje, shortly after his father Abdulmanap's death. He had pledged to his mother not to fight without his father in his corner.

Nurmagomedov reflected on his career trajectory during an appearance on "Smol Talk," asserting that his peak came after stepping away from competition. "People think my prime was between 2018 and 2020, but I wasn't in my prime back then," he said. "My grappling has improved tremendously since then. In 2026, it's much better than it was in 2020." He noted that while observers praise footage of his past fights, he identifies flaws when rewatching them. "I watch my old fights now and think, 'How could I have made that mistake here?'"

Nurmagomedov has devoted his retirement to coaching and business ventures. His training partners from both 2020 and the present day corroborate his assessment, acknowledging that his technical grappling has evolved considerably. Despite his inactivity in competition, he remains formidable on the mats, with teammates still unable to overcome him—especially after he gained additional weight.