What Khabib Nurmagomedov has said about Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor (UFC 229)

Nurmagomedov says his strategy against McGregor was to avoid striking with him and attack his weak spot, as the best fighters find and relentlessly pressure an opponent's weakness.

“His strengths are his striking, his timing, and his speed. His boxing. Why would I stand and strike with him? What am I supposed to do? I have to put pressure on his weak spot”

Lex Fridman Podcast: #500 – Khabib Nurmagomedov: Dagestan, MMA, UFC, Islam, Conor, Fedor & Football (Aug 12, 2026) · Listen from 1:24:54

Nurmagomedov argues the McGregor fight transcended MMA because the rivalry was real rather than manufactured, and predicts a fight of that magnitude will happen again.

“And honestly, will there be a fight like that? Well, it's hard for me to say, but I think it'll happen. It'll happen for sure”

Lex Fridman Podcast: #500 – Khabib Nurmagomedov: Dagestan, MMA, UFC, Islam, Conor, Fedor & Football (Aug 12, 2026) · Listen from 1:29:31

Nurmagomedov says a single phone call from his father before the McGregor fight mattered more to him than any other support, and that his father compared the pressure to how diamonds are made.

“Because that one call from my father, that one piece of advice, his support, his voice, it charged me up way more than absolutely everything else combined”

Lex Fridman Podcast: #500 – Khabib Nurmagomedov: Dagestan, MMA, UFC, Islam, Conor, Fedor & Football (Aug 12, 2026) · Listen from 1:35:26

Nurmagomedov denies that McGregor affected him psychologically, saying he had unshakable confidence that he was stronger both physically and mentally.

“Physically and mentally, I was just way stronger than him. I didn't doubt myself for even 1%”

Lex Fridman Podcast: #500 – Khabib Nurmagomedov: Dagestan, MMA, UFC, Islam, Conor, Fedor & Football (Aug 12, 2026) · Listen from 1:37:33