Khabib Nurmagomedov admits his grappling is ‘far better’ now than in his UFC prime

**Khabib Nurmagomedov** has admitted he’s a sharper grappler now than during his undefeated UFC run. On 15 July 2026, the Dagestani legend told *Smol Talk* he spots more errors in his old fights because his skills have grown since stepping away in 2020.

What did Khabib Nurmagomedov say about his old fights?

Nurmagomedov, 37, watched his past performances and cringed at mistakes he no longer makes. “I had barely begun,” he said. “Perhaps that was only the start of my prime. My grappling is much better now. In the summer of 2026, my grappling is better than it was in 2020.”

He singled out his 2020 win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 as a fight where hindsight stings. “When I rewatch my fights, I think, ‘How could I make that mistake?’ Viewers at the time watched from another angle and thought, ‘Wow, what a level.’ But in my opinion, it wasn’t such a high level.”

Why does Khabib Nurmagomedov think he’s improved?

The retired lightweight king pins his progress on relentless mat work. Nurmagomedov trains six days a week despite stepping away from competition in March 2020. “Last week alone, not counting this week, I did around 170 or 180 minutes of live grappling,” he said. “That doesn’t include any other training.”

He brushes off minor injuries as brief setbacks. “None of them have ever lasted longer than a few weeks,” Nurmagomedov added. “My execution is better now.”

How does Khabib Nurmagomedov compare to today’s champs?

Nurmagomedov still rolls with elite teammates in Dagestan. He claims he could still compete with the division’s best on the mats. “With him still being surrounded by elite fighters, Nurmagomedov has said he can still compete with the very best in his gym,” the report noted.

His comments arrive as Islam Makhachev pursues a two-belt reign. Fans debate whether Makhachev’s current run tops Nurmagomedov’s undefeated lightweight title reign.

What’s next for Khabib Nurmagomedov?

Training remains his focus. Nurmagomedov has no plans to return to competition, but his gym output keeps rising. “My grappling is far better now,” he repeated. “That’s the difference.”

The Dagestani coach also addressed Ian Machado Garry’s rise, calling the welterweight a “difficult” matchup for any contender at UFC 330.