Khabib adn Cousin Usman Nurmagomedov Clash Over Rematch Deservingness
DUBAI, UAE – A notable disagreement has surfaced between MMA legend Khabib Nurmagomedov and his cousin, rising lightweight star Usman Nurmagomedov, ahead of Usman’s rematch with Paul Hughes on Friday. While Khabib believes Hughes deserves another title shot, Usman publicly stated he disagrees with that assessment.
The dispute centers on Hughes’ challenge for the Professional Fighters League (PFL) lightweight title, which Usman currently holds after defeating Hughes on January 25, 2025, in Dubai. This disagreement highlights differing perspectives within the highly-respected Nurmagomedov fight family regarding opponent merit and championship contention. the outcome of Friday’s rematch will not only determine the PFL lightweight champion but also potentially deepen or resolve this familial divide.
Speaking to media including Bloody Elbow, Usman explained, “I think khabib has his opinion and I have my opinion. Sometimes those opinions are not the same. In my opinion, he still does not deserve it.”
Despite the disagreement, Usman emphasized a professional focus on the upcoming fight. “But who cares about this? No one, we’re going to fight Friday. Everything is good, training camp was good, Alhamdulillah so after a small hard day of cutting weight that’s it, we are going to fight, Inshallah.”
