Khabib Nurmagomedov may have a reunion in store with a man who pushed him further than anybody else.
In his sparkling career, ‘The Eagle’ compiled an astonishing 29-0 record. Nurmagomedov was so good, that he could even prank Daniel Cormier, without the fear of repercussions.
Utilizing his phenomenal grappling skills, the Dagestani ragdolled a plethora of top-level opponents, en route to winning a UFC lightweight championship and cementing his status as one of the greatest of all time.
However, while fans remember his reign at the top of the sport, they often forget the showdown he could’ve lost.
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Khabib Nurmagomedov had a controversial fight with Gleison Tibau
On July 7, 2012, at UFC 148, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Gleison Tibau, went head-to-head inside the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
While ‘The Eagle’ is renowned for destroying his rivals in one-sided affairs, he struggled to get a handle on his Brazilian adversary.
On a night he’ll never forget, at the age of 23, Nurmagomedov desperately struggled to take Tibau down, with the grappler successfully defending the future legend’s attempts.
However, Tibau was able to successfully get Nurmagomedov to the floor, with fans wondering whether they were about to witness an undefeated record go up in smoke.
The pair detonated big shots on each other’s chin, with Nurmagomedov throwing wildly, while his foe looked a little crisper.
In a testament to his fighting spirit, the prospect kept grinding away, cutting Tibau, and pushing the pace, while his veteran opponent looked to counter.
At the end of the fight, many believed the BJJ specialist had done enough to get the win. But it was ultimately Nurmagomedov who had his hand raised.
Khabib Nurmagomedov and Gleison Tibau could cross paths at GFL 1 and 2
While over a decade has passed since Tibau gave Nurmagomedov the hardest fight of his life, the idea of a reunion is certainly intriguing.
While they’re definitely not going to square off again, they could run into each other at GFL 1 and 2 on May 24 and 25, at the Shrine in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Tibau is set to make his return to the cage on the first night against Alex Oliveira, while Khabib’s cousin Abubakar Nurmagomedov will compete the following evening against Louis Glismann.
