Khabib Nurmagomedov's Team Faces Roster Shake-Up as Cousin

Khabib Nurmagomedov's fight team is handling a period of transition. While the retired champion himself reflects on his legendary career, his camp is dealing with a significant UFC roster cut and the long-awaited return of a family member to competition.

The UFC's latest roster purge has directly impacted Khabib Nurmagomedov's inner circle. His longtime teammate, Saygid Izagakhmaev, was one of nine fighters released by the promotion. Izagakhmaev entered the UFC with a strong 22-2 record and high expectations but lost both of his fights inside the Octagon. He leaves with a 22-4 professional mark. Khabib had trained with Izagakhmaev for years and once told ONE Championship he knew "how much he improves." The cut ends a disappointing UFC stint for a fighter Khabib clearly believed in.

Yes, Khabib's first cousin, Abubakar Nurmagomedov, is scheduled to fight for the first time in three years. The 36-year-old will face David Martinez at PFL Dubai on November 14. This marks his first MMA bout since being released by the UFC in February 2024, where he compiled a 2-2 record. Before that, he will make a combat sports return on the wrestling mat in Turkey on September 20. His comeback follows a failed attempt to compete for the now-defunct GFL promotion.

In a recent interview, Khabib Nurmagomedov identified his 2020 title defense against Justin Gaethje as the most challenging bout of his undefeated career. He told Lex Fridman that Gaethje came the closest to pushing him to his limit. The difficulty stemmed not only from Gaethje's power, which Khabib has called the hardest he's faced, but from profound personal circumstances. Khabib's father and coach, Abdulmanap, had died from Covid-19 before the fight. "It was hard to pull myself together," Khabib said, citing the emotional toll and a training camp plagued by injuries. He still won via second-round triangle choke.

The fantasy matchup between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Georges St-Pierre remains a topic of discussion among current fighters. Lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan recently named it as the dream fight he'd most want to see between two retired legends. This keeps the idea of Khabib's legacy being measured against other all-time greats alive in the sport's conversation, even as he remains firmly retired.

Recent Team Movement Snapshot

Fighter	Relation to Khabib	Recent Status	Date / Record
Saygid Izagakhmaev	Teammate	Cut from UFC roster	Left UFC 0-2 (22-4 overall)
Abubakar Nurmagomedov	First Cousin	Scheduled for PFL Dubai	Fights David Martinez on Nov 14

Key Takeaway: Khabib's teammate Saygid Izagakhmaev was released from the UFC after losing his only two fights with the promotion.
Key Takeaway: Khabib's cousin Abubakar Nurmagomedov ends a three-year layoff to fight at PFL Dubai on November 14.
Key Takeaway: Khabib himself says his 2020 fight with Justin Gaethje was his toughest, primarily due to his father's passing.
Key Takeaway: The fantasy bout between Khabib and Georges St-Pierre is still cited by peers like Arman Tsarukyan as a dream matchup.