What is Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Weight Class?

Khabib Nurmagomedov, fondly called “The Eagle” is one of the greatest fighters of the UFC. He retired last year without ever facing a loss in the octagon. But, why was Khabib so influential and dominant in his weight class, and why he never went up a division? Let’s explore everything about the Eagle here.

Hailing from Dagestan and belonging to a Russian family with a wrestling and martial arts background, Khabib started training very young. His regime included wrestling a bear at the age of just 9. He is a born star who carved himself with discipline and proved his mettle at the UFC with his 29-0-0 record.

Here’s everything you need to know about Khabib Nurmagomedov and his MMA career.

What is Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Weight Class?

Khabib Nurmagomedov competed in the Lightweight (155lbs) weight class throughout his career. He first signed a six-fight deal to compete in the UFC’s lightweight division in late 2011 and went on to defeat the likes of Kamal Shalorus, Gleison Tibau, Thiago Tavares, Abel Trujillo, Pat Healy, and Gilbert Melendez.

After that, Khabib defeated the former UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael dos Anjos in a dominating fashion. His undefeated streak in the UFC continued at the stake of fighters like Tony Ferguson, Michael Johnson, and Edson Barboza. During this time, he was long due for a title shot.

At UFC 223, Khabib Nurmagomedov faced Al Laquinta and handed him a stunning loss via unanimous decision to become the UFC Lightweight Champion. He continued to hold the title till his retirement and became the longest-reigning UFC Lightweight Champion ever.

How much did Khabib weigh against McGregor?

Khabib Nurmagomedov also faced the UFC legend Conor McGregor for the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 229. Khabib weighed around 155lbs for the fight while McGregor weighed around 154.5lbs. On fight night, the Eagle won the first two rounds but lost the third round to the Notorious.

It was the first time in Khabib’s career that he lost a round. However, Nurmagomedov quickly turned the tables in the fourth round and defeated McGregor via submission. After the fight was over, Khabib jumped over the Octagon in an attempt to attack McGregor’s teammate Dillon Danis.

A brawl broke out between the two and several other fighters including McGregor, Abubakar Nurmagomedov, Zubaira Tukhugov, and Esed Emiragaev as chaos ensued. The UFC also launched an investigatory probe and handed penalties to the people involved.

Why Khabib “The Eagle” Never Changed His Weight Class?

Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov usually walked around at 200lbs at a height of 1.78m but he always fought in the lightweight division where the usual weight limit is 155lbs. He rarely battled in the catchweight of around 160 lbs but never moved up to the welterweight or middleweight division.

Many believe that this was because of Khabib’s friendship with the then-welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. However, this isn’t true as confirmed by American promoter and MMA analyst Chael Sonnen. He also stated that Khabib never moved up any weight class because he was a smart fighter and knew the best for him.

According to Sonnen, Khabib knew that he’d be able to beat every fighter in the lightweight division with his sheer level of discipline and belief. This turned out to be true as Khabib retired with an undefeated streak and won 13 straight fights in the UFC at the ultimate phase of his career.

Khabib Nurmagomedov Stats & Career Record:

Here is an overview of Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov’s UFC career record and stats:

• Record: 29-0-0
• Wins by KO/Submission: 19
• DOB: September 20, 1988
• Age: 35 years
• Stance: Orthodox
• Reach: 70 inches
• Height: 5-foot-10
• Current weight: 205 lbs

Khabib started training very early as per the trend in Dagestan. His father turned the ground floor of his two-storeyed building into a gym where he spent most of his childhood. He made his professional MMA debut in September 2008 and won four fights in the first month only.

Next month, Khabib became the inaugural Atrium Cup tournament champion and then won all of his seven fights via TKO or submission for the ProFC promotion. Later, Khabib held a 16-0 record in the regional circuits of Russia and Ukraine which led to him earning a contract from the UFC.

The Eagle went on to become the longest-reigning UFC Lightweight Champion and retired with an undefeated record of 29 wins. He is widely considered among the greatest MMA fighter of all time. Khabib was also inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame on June 30, 2022.

Khabib’s Fighting Style in Lightweight Weight Class:

Khabib’s father, who was his first coach, was a celebrated athlete and a veteran of the Soviet Army. He trained Khabib in wrestling, judo, and combat sambo. The Eagle often got involved in street fights in his youth but then he got focused on MMA after getting inspired by his father Abdulmanapovich, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, and football legend Ronaldo Nazário.

In the UFC lightweight division, Khabib Nurmagomedov uses a wrestling-based style to put extreme pressure on his opponents. In layman’s terms, the Eage often ‘mauls down’ his opponents with a variety of wrestling, judo, and sambo takedowns against the cage and locks them up with his legs and arms to prevent escapes.

After exhausting his opponents with his weight, he attacks them with measured strikes which they could rarely defend. As a result, Khabib’s most victories came either via TKO/KO or submission. He is termed as one of the most terrifying lightweight fighters in the world.

Frequently Answered Questions:

What weight class does Khabib fight?:

Khabib Nurmagomedov a.k.a The Eagle fought in the Lightweight (155lbs) weight class throughout his career in the UFC. He was ranked the #1 lightweight fighter in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings at the time of his retirement and maintained an undefeated streak of 29-0-0 in the promotion.

How much did Khabib reigh?:

Khabib usually weighed around 200lbs but he always fought in the 155lbs (lightweight) division with his sheer discipline and skills. He always managed to maintain his weight to pass the weigh-ins before his fights. He rarely fought in the catchweight and that too never exceeded 160lbs.

Has Khabib ever lost?:

No, Khabib never lost a fight in the UFC. He retired with a record of 29-0-0 in the UFC and his undefeated streak proves how impressive he was as a professional MMA fighter. Even before coming to the UFC, Khabib maintained a record of 16-0 in the regional MMA circuit of Russia and Ukraine.

Why did Khabib retire?:

Khabib retired from professional wrestling to devote more time to his family. After the demise of his father Abdulmanapovich, his mother requested him to leave the industry as there were several health consequences involved. Following that, Khabib retired as a professional MMA fighter and turned to a coaching role. Eventually, he left that too, and completely moved away from the industry.