Khabib Nurmagomedov's Cousin Returns to MMA as Diaz Slap

Khabib Nurmagomedov's family and legacy remain in the headlines, with his cousin Abubakar Nurmagomedov booking a major comeback fight and a fresh claim about a past altercation with Nate Diaz surfacing.

For the first time in three years, Khabib Nurmagomedov's cousin Abubakar is returning to professional MMA. Abubakar Nurmagomedov, 36, is scheduled to fight David Martinez at PFL Dubai on November 14. This marks his first bout since being released by the UFC in February 2024. Before that, he will make a combat sports return on the wrestling mat in Turkey on September 20. Abubakar fought four times in the UFC, with a record of two wins and two losses. He was famously involved in the post-fight brawl after Khabib's win over Conor McGregor in 2018, which led to a one-year suspension and a $25,000 fine.

A new story has emerged from Nate Diaz about a fiery backstage encounter with Khabib. Diaz claimed he openly slapped Nurmagomedov during a wild altercation before a planned UFC dream fight between them collapsed. The incident reportedly happened years ago, but the specific claim from Diaz adds a new layer to the history between the two storied fighters. No further details about the timing or context of the alleged slap were provided in the report.

In a recent interview, Khabib Nurmagomedov revealed the toughest challenge of his undefeated career. He said his 2020 title defense against Justin Gaethje came closest to pushing him to his limit. The fight was uniquely difficult because Nurmagomedov had just lost his father, Abdulmanap, to Covid-19. "It was hard to pull myself together," Khabib told Lex Fridman. He also battled multiple injuries during the camp. Despite this, he submitted Gaethje with a triangle choke in the second round at UFC 254, calling Gaethje the hardest hitter he ever faced.

A look back at Khabib's early dominance highlights his relentless style. At UFC 165 in 2013, he completely broke veteran Pat Healy across three rounds of non-stop grappling. That victory was a clear demonstration of the pressure and control that would define his 29-0 career. It showed the world the kind of fighter who was rising through the lightweight ranks.

• Abubakar Nurmagomedov fights at PFL Dubai on November 14, his first MMA bout in three years.
• Khabib identified his 2020 fight with Justin Gaethje as his toughest, due to his father's passing and injuries.
• Nate Diaz claims he slapped Khabib backstage before a failed fight negotiation.
• Khabib's early UFC win over Pat Healy at UFC 165 showed his signature grappling dominance.

Khabib's influence continues through his team and family, keeping his name relevant in combat sports long after his retirement.