Khabib Nurmagoedov’s manager may not have gotten all of the context, but he had some things to say about Ronda Rousey.
In a recent interview with Bert Kreischer on his podcast, Rousey blamed the fans and media for her MMA legacy — along with the legacies of other fighters — not being at the same level as athletes from other sports. She mentioned Chuck Liddell, Fedor Emelianenko, and others as examples, but then discussed how Nurmagomedov is still revered after retiring as UFC lightweight champ at 29-0.
“I think the only reason why MMA fans have their lips so firmly planted at the base of Khabib’s c*ck is because he retired before he reached his limit,” Rousey said. “If he kept fighting until he reached his limit, everybody would be ‘Khabib ain’t shit, he never was shit’.
“They’re like that with everybody. Name one person. ‘Brock [Lesnar] ain’t shit, he never was shit.’ Name one past champion that has the kind of respect that the current champions do. It’s really sad because I think it encourages people to get out while they’re peaking and leaving and taking all of that equity with them instead of passing it on to whoever’s next to take up the mantle.”
Ali Abdelaziz was made aware of Rousey’s comments about his client, and responded on Submission Radio.
“It’s jealousy,” Abdelaziz said. “Khabib is just an icon. Ronda… when she was champion, she was a great athlete, and she beat the girls that were not athletic, but when she met Amanda, she lost. She can’t compare herself to Khabib. She’s not like a GOAT, she’s just unhappy.
“It’s very simple: If you think you’re better than Khabib, you should come back. Kayla Harrison, your old friend, I’m sure will be very happy to open the door and give you an ass-whooping.
“I don’t really have a problem with Ronda but I was very shocked to hear [her talk] about Khabib like that. Khabib, he never talked bad about nobody. But Khabib was a legit superstar, an icon, undefeated, undisputed champion. He’s always going to be a champion. He has no highlight reel of getting knocked out by Holly Holm. But in a way, if it’s going to make her feel better, sleep better, she can say whatever she wants, but I personally have nothing against her. But she should never talk about Khabib like that because Khabib never talk about nobody.”
Rousey was a dominant force and a star, but was then brutally knocked out by Holly Holm and Amanda Nunes in back-to-back fights, and then left the sport altogether.
With the UFC heading to the White House in June, rumors have swirled about a possible return to the octagon for Rousey. “Rowdy” has yet to give any affirmation, but if she were to return to UFC competition, Abdelaziz believes she won’t be anywhere near the top of the women’s bantamweight divisional heap.
“Honestly, in this day and era, and how the sport’s evolved, she’s still very young [and] if she comes back, she’ll not even be in the top-10,” Abdelaziz explained. “I don’t think she’d be in the top-10, my opinion. But there’s only one way to find out.”
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