Although he announced his retirement from all aspects of MMA, Khabib Nurmagomedov finds himself in the limelight yet again. The 34-year-old has become the subject of debates once again after Jon Jones captured the heavyweight title at UFC 285 and restarted the GOAT conversations.

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However, the GOAT conversation is not the only one discussing ‘The Eagle.’ In the wake of Ciryl Gane‘s submission loss, people are revisiting the Dagestani’s invitation to Gane for wrestling training. One UFC veteran is pointing out the glaring hypocrisy from the Russian, as he did not extend the same courtesy to another fighter who lost via submission.

Khabib Nurmagomedov

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Former UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko also lost her title at UFC 285. She submitted to Alexa Grasso after the Mexican secured a rear naked choke in the fourth round.

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As Nurmagomedov’s invitation to Gane is going viral, UFC veteran Angela Hill pointed out how he never invited Shevchenko despite her losing similarly.

Fans react to Khabib Nurmagomedov inviting Ciryl Gane to Dagestan

Under an Instagram post discussing the Russian’s comments, UFC veteran Angela Hill wrote, “Didn’t reach out to Valentina tho.” In Nurmagomedov’s defense, his invitation to Gane was from 2022. He invited “Bon Gamin” to train wrestling in Dagestan after his loss to Francis Ngannou earlier that year.

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Hill could have mistakenly thought that the resurfaced invitation came after Gane’s loss to Jon Jones. However, Shevchenko and Nurmagomedov have had a major disagreement before.

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The former flyweight champion once slammed Nurmagomedov for his comments on ring girls being unnecessary for the sport of MMA. Hill could have been alluding to this tension also when pointing out Nurmagomedov not inviting Shevchenko to train in Dagestan.

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Other reactions from fans include:

  • Would be good but he needs years of wrestling training at this point
  • he would’ve been submitted in the 2nd round instead
  • If Gane doesn’t accept this offer he should just retire. He’s too good for that performance.
  • Yeah cuz Jones will probably be retired by then
  • Thought he wasn’t gonna be involved with MMA in any facet?
  • Nah go with volk look what happened to islam
  • It still wouldn’t have changed much. 2 years of wrestling will never match 20 years of wrestling

What are your thoughts on the situation? Do you think Hill has a point? And do you think Gane should take Khabib Nurmagomedov up on the invitation?

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Let us know in the comments below.

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Yeswanth Praveen

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As Senior Editor of EssentiallySports’ UFC division, Yeswanth Praveen brings firsthand experience to our combat vertical. A competitive boxer since his college days, he still trains four times a week, keeping his connection to the sport sharp. An English major with a strong command of language, Yeswanth combines technical insight with compelling storytelling, decoding complex fight sequences while capturing the heart of a fighter’s journey. Since joining EssentiallySports in 2021, he has played a pivotal role in shaping our combat coverage strategies. His work has earned recognition from UFC veterans like Bruce Buffer and former heavyweight Brendan Schaub. His UFC takes on Twitter keep him actively engaged with fight fans. Whether breaking down a high-stakes title fight or profiling a rising prospect, Yeswanth delivers authenticity and depth.

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Rohini Kottu