Why ‘The Eagle’? Khabib Nurmagomedov Reveals the Story Behind His Iconic Nickname
Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of the biggest names in combat sports, remaining hugely popular despite retiring from professional MMA competition in 2020. The former UFC lightweight champion retired at the very top, finishing his legendary career with an undefeated professional record of 29-0.
Retiring unbeaten is extremely rare in mixed martial arts, making Nurmagomedov’s achievement truly special and historically significant. Throughout his fighting career, Khabib Nurmagomedov was renowned for his exceptional wrestling skills and overwhelming dominance inside the Octagon.
Opponents struggled to deal with his pressure-heavy style, ground control, and ability to completely dictate where the fight took place. Widely known as the ‘Eagle’, Nurmagomedov recently shared the story behind his iconic nickname with fans.
“In 2012, when UFC signed me. They told me ‘My friend, your name is very hard to . You need a nickname.’ I was like, ‘What? I have my name, why I need a nickname?’ I asked my manager, ‘What is this nickname?’ He said, ‘Your name is very hard for them to say.’ I take Eagle because it’s a symbol of Dagestan, but after six years, everybody knows my name, “ said Khabib Nurmagomedov via WSS.
Khabib Nurmagomedov changed MMA by introducing Dagestani wrestling, a suffocating style that continues dominating the UFC landscape today. He was part of some of the biggest fights in history, most notably his intense rivalry with Conor McGregor.
At UFC 229, he submitted McGregor and jumped over the Octagon, which resulted in massive chaos. After winning that fight, the ‘Eagle’ became a global superstar recognized far beyond MMA.
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Following retirement, Khabib Nurmagomedov transitioned into coaching, guiding fighters like Islam Makhachev toward championship success and sustained dominance. The Dagestani regularly receives invitations to major sporting events, including recent appearances at prestigious ceremonies like the Globe Soccer Awards.
Khabib Nurmagomedov talks about trash-talking in combat sports
Trash talk has long been part of combat sports history, with the UFC producing iconic personalities like Conor McGregor and Chael Sonnen. Many upcoming fighters rely on trash-talking to create hype around their names, while quieter athletes often get sidelined.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is widely known for his humble personality and respectful approach toward opponents inside and outside competition. Recently, Nurmagomedov spoke about the negative impact trash-talking has on combat sports.
“I feel very bad for U.S. promotions because there are so many hungry fighters coming and they don’t like to talk trash. They just come, smash people, and take money, and U.S. promotions don’t like this; they like trash talking. I understand in one way it’s business, but at the end of the day, this is sport,” Khabib Nurmagomedov continued.
However, loud trash talkers are often promoted heavily because they attract attention, with fighters like Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett benefiting. Their outspoken personas help build massive fanbases and sell pay-per-views, leaving little room for Nurmagomedov’s ideals within market-driven realities.
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