‘This is history’… Khabib Nurmagomedov reacts as teammate’s $1million PFL title win marks rare honor for MMA legend

Khabib Nurmagomedov has praised his teammate for winning PFL gold in a moment that also marks a major achievement for the MMA legend.

Gadzhi Rabadanov knocked out former Bellator champion Brent Primus with a vicious finish on Friday night to win the PFL lightweight title, as well as the $1 million prize that comes with it. He joins a long line of fighters who have become champions or top contenders after training with Nurmagomedov.

Rabadanov is now one of the best 155-pound fighters in the world and is riding a 10-fight win streak next year.

Gadzhi Rabadanov is now PFL lightweight champion

It was a Riyadh dream for Rabadanov as he landed a huge payday and became world champion in one of the biggest MMA promotions on Friday night. The Russian came in with a record of 24-4-2, including a nine-fight win streak, but faced a tough test in the veteran Primus.

However, the former Bellator champion is now nearing the end of a career that saw him share the cage with the likes of Michael Chandler and Benson Henderson. And that night he was no match for Rabadanov, who dropped him twice before brutally ending their fight in the third frame.

The Russian connected with a flush left hook that floored Primus in the third after an impressive first few rounds. Three subsequent punches sent Rabadanov's opponent crashing face-first to the canvas, where he ate another unnecessary punch en route to a KO of the Year contender.

Khabib Nurmagomedov's team now holds the lightweight title in all three major promotions

The victory is a monstrous achievement for Khabib Nurmagomedov's team. The Dagestani icon was such a dominant fighter during his famous UFC run, but retired as a top athlete in 2020 following the death of his father.

Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images

Since then, he has dedicated himself to coaching, promoting and generally working with other fighters. And it has now led to the Nurmagomedov team becoming the rulers of the lightweight division, with world titles in the UFC, Bellator and now PFL at 155 pounds.

Islam Makhachev has been the UFC champion since 2022, when he dethroned Charles Oliveira in Abu Dhabi. Usman Nurmagomedov won the Bellator title a few weeks later, and now Rabadanov has claimed the PFL title.

The emotional reactions of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev to Gadzhi Rabadanov's victory

On Instagram, Khabib Nurmagomedov emotionally declared that “history” had been made with the victory. He also noted that it was special to see his teammate claim victory, giving their gym another world title.

“Three best organizations in the world, three current champions in the lightweight division,” Nurmagomedov wrote in Russian on his Instagram stories. “This is something unreal in my opinion.”

He continued that message by adding, “You are the best, you just had to do this for a long time and prepare hard. Amateur World Champion and now Professional World Champion, this is history, brother.”

Islam Makhachev then chimed in, writing on Instagram: “Congratulations brother @gadzhi_rabadanov. I think in this Grand Prix you are only just starting to reach your potential, and are now taking a well-deserved rest.”

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