Khabib Nurmagomedov says that the biggest test in the career of Umar Nurmagomedov comes after the UFC Bantam weight has tasted the defeat for the first time.
The first pay-per-view of 2025 was a mixed affair for Khabib and his team. While the then lightweight champion Islam Makhacheve Renato Moicano submitted to UFC 311, the Co-Main event Umar Nurmagomedov saw the gold of his division.
Merab Dvalishvili got better from Umar in five rounds, marked the first successful defense of the Georgian of the 135 pound Riem and further pushed his stock in the direction of potential bantam weight goat match.
Umar has since been left to return if he wants to start the journey to another shot. And to do this, Khabib says that his cousin should penetrate his heaviest challenge.
Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG
Khabib Nurmagomedov says how Umar Rebounds will determine whether he was ever intended as a UFC champion
During a recent interview with Adam Zubayraev, Khabib insisted that Jon Jones is beyond his Prime, an example of the Welterweight title of Makhachacthev, the current Comeback offers that he receives and spoke about a number of other topics.
'The Eagle' cut a frustrated and passionate figure in Umar's Hoek on UFC 311. But it seems that he will not act in the same way when it comes to insisting on his cousin to bounce back and re -report his hope for a crown on a title.
Instead, Khabib said that the bantam weight candidate should find his own way through this difficult period, and his ability to do this will determine whether the champion status ever was on the cards for 'The Young Eagle'.
“Of course every hunter requires a different approach,” Khabib said about how he responded to Umar's setback. “I don't have the same approach with Islam and Umar.
“Of them all (teammates), probably the closest to me is Umar. That's why it was difficult to find the right words. But I prefer that they are coming through those situations themselves. Of course I am always here to help, but it is better for them in the long term.
“The harder it is to get through, the better it is ultimately,” Khabib continued. “He will come out stronger if he makes it.
“If he doesn't, he might never be meant to be champions. It's a bit like natural selection.”
What Umar Nurmagomedov should do to earn a Merab DvalishVili -Rematch
Whether Umar can bounce back and prove that his title ambitions are far from disappeared, still to be seen, but he can have a long way back to gold, unless it changes owner.
Dvalishvili will then defend the title against Cory Sandhagen. Before that was announced for UFC 320 in October, 'The Machine' appealed to Nurmagomedov's status after their five -round collision in LA.
“Umar has to fight another,” said Dvalishvili on a UFC Baku Q&A. “Or maybe two …
“Maybe three more. We will see.
“When UFC will give him a title fight, I am here,” Dvalishvili added.