Khabib Nurmagomedov has met a slew of prominent figures, but there’s one person in particular he’s eager to meet.
From Russia president Vladimir Putin to soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, former unbeaten UFC champ Nurmagomedov has shaken hands with a who’s-who throughout his dominant reign as the UFC’s lightweight king. Beyond boxing legend Muhammad Ali, who died in 2016, Nurmagomedov said there’s one person he’d love to meet.
“I really want to meet Michael Jordan,” Nurmagomedov said on the “FULL SEND PODCAST.” “I play basketball, but not like Michael Jordan. This is Dagestan basketball: We wrestle, we run, we do everything.”
Nurmagomedov’s rendition of basketball is a mix of rugby and basketball, in which players pass and shoot, but don’t dribble. It’s an activity “The Eagle” and his teammates often enjoyed during their training days in Dagestan.
Nurmagomedov said that he got to learn more about six-time NBA champion Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, from the recent documentary “The Last Dance,” which left him inspired.
“Michael Jordan, a month ago I watched his documentary because I’m working on my documentary and it was very interesting to watch,” Nurmagomedov said. “My friend advised me, ‘You have to watch this. It’s very impressive.’ Before his documentary, I didn’t know about him much. I just knew Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player, and that’s it. In Dagestan, we don’t follow the NBA much and it was very impressive for me to watch, and I really want to meet this guy.”
Nurmagomedov jokingly struck a deal with podcast host Bob Menery, who said he’d help Nurmagomedov meet Jordan in exchange for something in particular.
“I’m going to give him three sheep, but he has to make me meet Michael Jordan,” Nurmagomedov said. “I’m going to give you three sheep and maybe we’re going to give (Kyle Forgeard) free dog.”
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Former UFC champ Khabib Nurmagomedov reveals the one person he’d love to meet