LUKE ROCKHOLD is all too aware of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s immense strength after the former UFC champion got the better of him in training.
Khabib, 33, retired in October 2020 with a perfect 29-0 after dominating the lightweight division for nearly a decade.
Known for his unparalleled skills on the ground, eleven of Khabib’s pro victories came by submission.
And he showed his immense strength has gone nowhere by wrestling with former UFC middleweight Rockhold.
In the clip, the pair are locked in a clinch with Khabib on top of his far heavier opponent during a friendly training session.
The two fighters are separated by TWO weight classes and the 37-year-old Californian competed at 205lbs in his last fight.
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Luke is heard saying: “Don’t get too comfortable Khabib. Don’t get too comfortable.”
The Russian replies: “I just miss you, I hug you.”
Rockhold appears to be putting in an extraordinary effort as he tries to remove the Russian from his body.
The American lets out a huge breath as he tries to wriggle free and does manage to escape – but only temporarily.
‘THIS IS THE NO1 BULL****’
Khabib is back onto him in a flash and after grabbing Rockhold’s legs, again manages to haul him back down onto the octagon canvas.
After dominating his man, the Russian star said: “If sambo was easy… It’d be called Luke Rockhold
“Ask Luke what happened today.”
The fighters were in training at the American Kickboxing Academy gym in California and Rockhold joked the Russian has put on 50lbs in weight since hanging up his gloves eighteen months ago.
But he had nothing but praise for the lightweight king’s grappling abilities, with Khabib even able to hold down freestyle wrestler Deron Winn in another viral clip.
Khabib showed Rockhold how much he missed having him in the gym
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 29, 2022
(via @LukeRockhold) pic.twitter.com/uPDFXsyZ7F
Rockhold said: “This is [the] number one bull****.
“He gets [you in a] body lock. When you give him the side position, then it’s like nothing [you’ve ever felt before].
“Check the [footage of Khabib vs Winn], because Deron couldn’t get up for two rounds straight.”
Rockhold last fought in the UFC in July 2019, going down to Jan Błachowicz by KO at UFC 239.
He looks set to make his long-awaited comeback against Paulo Costa on August 28.
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As for Khabib, he is reportedly happy in retirement and has no plans to return to Dana White’s promotion – as much as the UFC kingpin would like him to.
White said: “Khabib is one of the greatest athletes to ever compete in professional sports.
“No one dominated their opponents that way Khabib did, and to retire undefeated, as lightweight champion and the number one pound-for-pound athlete in the world is an incredible accomplishment.”
