FOOTIE-mad UFC legend Khabib Numagomedov has chosen his favorites for the Champions League this year - but he's left out current trophy holders Chelsea.
Former MMA fighter and promoter, he is an avid fan of the beautiful sport and makes every effort to attend big matches whenever he can.
Khabib, a legend in UFC, has named his five competitors to win the Champions League
this year.
After the inaugural American Eagle FC event in Miami, the Russians were asked to determine who would win this year’s Champions League.
The self-confessed Real Madrid fan also predicted that some familiar clubs would be in the running to win Europe's elite club competition at season's end.
Nurmagomedov, 33 years old, stated to the assembled media that there are many teams.
"Some people start the season weakly but gain momentum. It happens the opposite way.
"I don’t know how it will turn out. If I had to pick, I would choose Liverpool, Manchester City and PSG as my favourites.
"And of course, you shouldn't forget about Bayern. These are the five commands.
"Now PSG will play against Real Madrid. It is very difficult to make a decision.
Nurmagomedov displayed his knowledge of Europe's most prestigious club competition last May by correctly naming the 16 winners of the tournament over the past 16 years.
Manel Kape, his UFC flyweight teammate and AKA team-mate, said: "2005 Liverpool. 2006, Barcelona. 2007, Milan."
Kape tried interrupting him but Nurmagomedov replied: "No listen, brother. 2008, Manchester United. 2009, Barcelona.
"2010, Inter. 2011, Barcelona, 2012, Chelsea. 2013, Bayern Munich. 2014, Real Madrid. 2015, Barcelona.
"2016, 2017, 2018, Real [Madrid]. 2019, Liverpool. 2020, Bayern Munich."
Javier Mendez, Kape's former UFC lightweight champion, said that Kape knew nothing about'results. Nurmagomedov replied: "No, No, no. If you don’t know anything about football, you don’t know how you can play.
"You must understand the game.
"Please Manel. Please. Please coach, you must understand that if you don’t know anything about the sport how can you learn how to play it? How? It is impossible."
PSG and Sporting Lisbon will face Real Madrid and Manchester City in their first 16-legged Champions League tie.
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