Khabib Nurmagomedov and Fedor Emelianenko are two of the best ever and the legends met up at PFL Dubai.
Watch Khabib Nurmagomedov, Fedor Emelianenko in meeting of legends at PFL Dubai
Alexander K. Lee is an editor for MMA Fighting who has been covering combat sports since 2014.
In a video posted to the Bellator MMA account, the Russian stars were seen chatting in the locker room of Usman Nurmagomedov at the PFL’s event in Dubai on Saturday. Watch the encounter below.
Nurmagomedov and UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev both greeted Emelianenko warmly before posing for a picture, which can be seen below.
Between the two of them, Nurmagomedov and Emelianenko have a sterling 69-7 (1 NC) record, with both fighters regularly considered to be among the best-ever in their divisions. Nurmagomedov retired at 29-0 with the UFC lightweight title still around his waist in 2020, while Emelianenko is near the top of any conversation of the greatest heavyweights.
Emelianenko, a legend in Japan’s PRIDE organization that closed out his storied career with Bellator, once went undefeated in 28 straight fights from 2001 to 2010.
Add in Makhachev, the current UFC lightweight champion who owns the record for most defenses of that title and a gaudy record of his own at 27-1, and pound-for-pound, this is one of the most talent-rich combat sports photos you’ll ever see.
As for Usman, he went on to take a majority decision win over Paul Hughes to retain his lightweight title in a hotly contested main event.
