Khabib Nurmagomedov put American streamer IShowSpeed in his place on Saturday evening.
The former UFC lightweight champion, a massive soccer fan, traveled to Munich, Germany, to see Paris Saint-Germain claim their first Champions League trophy after a crushing 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the final.
Khabib Nurmagomedov made a surprise appearance on CBS live television during the event.
IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Hawkins, saw this as an ideal chance to assess one of the greatest 155lb fighters in MMA history.
Khabib Nurmagomedov Puts IShowSpeed in Check on Live TV
CBS commentator Jamie Carragher initiated the Khabib Nurmagomedov vs IShowSpeed exchange with a single question.
The former Liverpool defender asked: “Do you believe you could defeat Speed in a fight or a race?”
IShowSpeed simplified the question: “Could you defeat me in a fight?”
Initially, Khabib Nurmagomedov overlooked the question, choosing instead to focus on their soccer abilities.
IShowSpeed asserted that his ‘skill level is superior’ before being reminded of who he was addressing.
“Don’t forget, there’s no one between us right now,” Nurmagomedov stated, playfully cautioning the influencer.
The undefeated Russian, with a 29-0 record, redirected the focus back to his `exchange` with IShowSpeed when interviewers mistakenly believed he had used the word `fight` while discussing catching a flight out of Germany.
“No more fighting,” Nurmagomedov stated, referring to his retirement from MMA in 2020.
He added: “Perhaps if this individual speaks excessively, maybe we will fight tonight.”
IShowSpeed asserted: “Hey, Khabib, I never retreat. I never retreat.”
Tony Ferguson Seeks to Resolve Rivalry with Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov has not competed since submitting Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 five years prior.
The 36-year-old has consistently dismissed the possibility of returning to the sport that brought him renown.
Considering this, Tony Ferguson recently proposed they resolve their long-standing rivalry through an alternative method.
The lightweight pair were scheduled to face each other five times throughout their notable UFC careers.
A sequence of remarkably unfortunate circumstances resulted in them never competing against each other inside the Octagon.
“I am the sole individual his father mentioned, before his passing, for this specific fight to happen,” he remarked.
“Presently, whether it involves striking, grappling, or any other form of competition, I am aware that he honors his father`s promise.
I know that I never talked about his religion, his wife, or anybody else that goes about it.
“Nevertheless, I understand that in terms of competition, we maintain a respectful relationship. There is no rationale preventing us from serving as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter.”
