Kamaru Usman’s close friend and former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has sent a message to the Nigerian Nightmare ahead of a highly anticipated rematch against Colby Covington at UFC 268 inside Madison Square Garden in New York. We all know Usman and Khabib are quite close with each other. Nurmagomedov was also managed by Dominance MMA when he was active, so the friendship between Ali Albadelziz, Kamaru Usman, and Khabib Nurmagomedov is quite apparent.
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In a recent episode of UFC Embedded, Dominance MMA CEO Ali Abdelaziz can be seen talking to Khabib Nurmagomedov, as UFC’s welterweight champion Kamaru Usman sits to his side. As Nurmagomedov complains about the constant media attention and being part of the UFC’s embedded, he also takes the time to wish his friend and fellow fighter Kamaru Usman ahead of the title rematch against Covington.
“Smash this guy.” Nurmagomedov continues, “My energy with you brother,” Khabib says. “I just want to say brother, I am tired of Embedded, let me enjoy my life. Why you guys filming me all the time.”
“Honestly I really want him to smash this guy like he did the first time. Let’s go Kamaru. Pound for pound, best in the world. Kamaru Usman.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov made his last UFC appearance as a cornerman for his friend and fellow lightweight contender Islam Makhachev just last week at UFC 267. Since his retirement, Nurmagomedov has taken the duties of a coach and has been helping his friends and fellow fighters from the American Kickboxing Academy release their UFC dream.
Can Kamaru Usman beat Colby Covington in the rematch?
Khabib Nurmagomedov expects a similar outing against Colby Covington like the first time around, where the Nigerian Nightmare picked up a fifth-round TKO win over the Chaos Colby Covington to defend his welterweight strap. However, things will be a lot different this time around as both the fighters have evolved multi-folds in the last two years.
Only time will tell if Usman can beat Covington, but an argument can be made that if there’s one fighter who has shown us that Kamaru Usman is beatable, it is Colby Covington. And while one may hate Covington for his trash-talk, and his gimmick, there’s no denying the kind of talent and skill set that he brings inside the Octagon. It’s a tough fight for both the fighters and MMA fans around the world would be on the edge of their seats when it goes down this weekend at Madison Square Garden in New York.