Khabib Nurmagomedov rose to the top of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s lightweight division with cold, calculated efficiency and an almost psychotic pursuit of excellence.
The Dagestani juggernaut’s career record now sits at 28-0 and includes a run of 12 consecutive victories inside the Octagon. Nurmagomedov quieted his few remaining skeptics at UFC 229, where he submitted Conor McGregor with a fourth-round neck crank to retain the undisputed lightweight championship and cement his claim as the sport’s alpha male at 155 pounds. His pristine resume features 10 wins by submission, eight wins by knockout or technical knockout and 10 wins by unanimous decision.