Best UFC resume? Khabib Nurmagomedov and Kamaru Usman's records compared

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Kamaru Usman are two of UFC’s household names.

Both fighters have competed primarily at Welterweight and boast incredibly impressive records in their careers inside the Octagon.

Khabib, in fact, has won all 29 of his professional fights, whilst Usman has lost just one of his 21 MMA fights. The pair are similar in age as well as record, with Khabib two years Usman’s junior at 33 years of age.

Despite the obvious comparisons between the careers of the pair, there are also obvious differences.

Firstly, their backgrounds are very different. Khabib originates from Russia, namely the Republic of Dagestan, whilst Usman hails from Nigeria and made the move to America when he was eight.

Despite the fact that he is 35, and the elder of the two fighters, Usman is the active fighter; with Khabib retiring in 2020 following the death of his father.

Khabib, nicknamed ‘The Eagle’, made his UFC debut in September 2011, submitting Vadim Sandulskiy via a triangle choke.

Despite being his maiden UFC bout, this was Khabib’s 15th professional MMA victory. Since then, his record has remained unblemished. 

Remarkably, it wasn’t until he faced Conor McGregor at UFC 229 that Khabib lost the first round of his UFC career. After winning the first two rounds, Khabib was adjudged to have lost the third.

It was of little relevance, though, as Khabib swiftly dispatched of McGregor in the following round via submission.

He followed this victory up by defeating Dustin Poirier almost a year later to earn himself the record of the longest winning streak in UFC history with 28 straight victories. 

That was to be the penultimate fight of Khabib’s career, unless he can be goaded out of retirement. ‘The Eagle’ finished with one