Dana White Has Big Plans for UFC Lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov

UFC president Dana White has big plans for undefeated lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov, who increased his winning streak with an unanimous decision victory over Pat Healy at UFC 165 on Saturday night in Toronto.

“This kid comes out and goes for it,” White said. “He went in there with a bigger, stronger dude, and he was getting hit with some big shots tonight. He can wrestle, he can punch, he’s got good punching power as well.”

Nurmagomedov’s trademark move is his slam when he picks up his opponent, carries him across the Octagon, and then slams them into the mat, which reminded White of an old Matt Hughes.

“That slam, when he just scoops him up and slams him, Matt Hughes style. That reminded me of the old Matt Hughes where he would run a guy across the Octagon and slam him,” he continued. “The kid is exciting, he’s talented, and tonight he showed everyone what he’s got.

“We’re probably going to do big things with this kid. I love this kid; I love the way he fights.”

White isn’t such a big fan of Khabib’s decorative headgear, but the Russian has no plans of ditching it.

Khabib sported a white afro wig at the weigh-ins and before the fight, saying that it’s his ethnic headgear from his hometown in Russia.

“You better get used to it,” Nurmagomedov said. “It’s not a wig, it’s my ethnic headgear. We usually wear it when we go to war, so we mean business when we put it on.”