It appears UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is already a big winner before he steps into the octagon at UFC 242 on Saturday.
According to his father and coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, “The Eagle” will bank the biggest payday of his career when he looks to unify the UFC lightweight title against interim champion Dustin Poirier in Abu Dhabi. Nurmagomedov (27-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC) is set to earn at least three times the $2 million he banked for his fight with Conor McGregor at UFC 229 in October 2018, his father said.
Speaking to Russian news outlet TASS, Khabib’s father Abdulmanap said he will earn a huge payday: “We will make 3 to 3.5 (times) more.”
As well as Nurmagomedov’s sporting successes inside the cage, Abdulmanap says his son’s burgeoning popularity has been a driving force behind the negotiations that look set to see him earn in excess of $6 million.
“We aren’t fighting for a small change – we know what we worth,” he continued. “It is not enough for us, because we are the best now. We have beaten the best, and we are ready to fight the best. We are popular – we know that. When we enter the arena, you will see the reaction to us, and reaction to Poirier.”
Nurmagomedov captured the UFC lightweight title in his 10th UFC fight after arriving in the promotion as an undefeated prospect. His title-winning victory over late replacement Al Iaquinta at UFC 223 saw him rise to the top of the UFC’s 155-pound division after Conor McGregor had been stripped of the title.
His grudge match victory over McGregor at UFC 229 last year saw him catapulted to superstardom as he cemented his position as the world’s best lightweight fighter. And now, ahead of his unification battle with interim champion Poirier (25-5 MMA, 17-4 UFC) it seems he’s going to take home a pay packet worthy of his status, too.
