Khabib Nurmagomedov weighs in on the legacies of Muhammad Ali and Floyd Mayweather, comparing their careers and their impact on people!
World heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali speaks during a press conference at the historical Jubilee Hall on the campus of Fisk University on April 23, 1975. Ali is in town to take part in a special television taping involving Fisk's musical organizations.
Money talks in combat sports, but legacy whispers forever. That’s the lesson Khabib Nurmagomedov learned when he walked away from a potential $100 million payday to fight Floyd Mayweather back in 2021. The former UFC lightweight champion had just retired after submitting Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, capping off a perfect 29-0 career that included dominant wins over Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier. ‘The Eagle’ has always been different from other fighters, prioritizing his values and principles over pure financial gain.
Fans have seen Conor McGregor bank massive money against Mayweather, and countless other fighters have tried to follow that blueprint. But when the offer came Khabib’s way, he didn’t even hesitate before turning it down. His reasoning wasn’t about money or marketability, it was about something much more personal and philosophical. The Dagestani fighter has built his entire career on respect, discipline, and leaving behind a legacy that his children could be proud of.
The Character Debate: Money vs Morals
During a recent Q&A session in New York, Khabib Nurmagomedov dropped some serious facts. He has always been vocal about the importance of character and how fighters conduct themselves outside the octagon. He sees combat sports as a platform to inspire people, especially young Muslims who look up to him as a role model. The former UFC champion pointed to Muhammad Ali as the gold standard, noting that even though Ali passed away, he continues to inspire billions of people around the world. It’s the difference between being remembered for your bank account versus being remembered for your impact on humanity.
“This is a money fight, but I will never do this because I respect legacy. If you talk about Mayweather as a man, nobody wants to be like him. Look at Muhammad Ali. He’s not with us, but he inspired billions of people, not just Muslims.”
The contrast between Nurmagomedov’s approach and Mayweather’s is stark when fans really think about it. Mayweather built his entire brand around “Money.” He has flaunted his wealth, turning every fight into a spectacle about how much cash he could generate. Meanwhile, Ali used his platform to take stands on social issues, even when it cost him prime years of his career and millions of dollars when he refused to fight in Vietnam. Khabib Nurmagomedov clearly sees himself following the Ali model rather than the Mayweather blueprint. He would rather be remembered as someone who stood for something meaningful than someone who just accumulated the biggest pile of money possible.
