Khabib Nurmagomedov should change his name to Nostradamus after prophesizing Rafael dos Anjos wiping the floor with UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis at UFC 185.
“I think [dos Anjos] smashes [Pettis] in striking, and I think he smashes him on the ground,” Nurmagomedov said in an interview with MMAFighting.com.
Before Saturday night, these comments were seen as absurdity to the highest levels. “Showtime” Pettis, Mr. Wheaties, had lived his career inside the Matrix, pulling off maneuvers that would make Morpheus reexamine his idea of “The One.”
People were already talking about superfights with Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor, despite Pettis only having one successful UFC title defense on his resume. That’s how good that guy is.
Yet dos Anjos, the most unlikely of contenders, would be the one to unravel everything, reminding MMA fans that paper-laden predictions would be better used as toilet paper.
Just as Nurmagomedov predicted, dos Anjos smashed Pettis in the standup and on the ground in Saturday’s main event. In hindsight, the bout was so lopsided it’s hard to even consider it an upset.
Perhaps the only thing upsetting was the fact that nearly everyone overlooked dos Anjos, even those giving him a slight chance to pull off the unthinkable. Very few saw that kind of performance coming.
After the fight, Nurmagomedov took some time to gloat over his prediction on twitter.
Congrats @RdosAnjosMMA and whole Brazil with the belt. You really deserved it. Work on your your wrestling, I am coming for the belt!!!
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) March 15, 2015
@TeamKhabib watching fight @Showtimepettis - Anjos ?? #ufc185 pic.twitter.com/FNObBUn9RT
— muhammadanji (@muhammadanji) March 15, 2015
If you want to be a champion don't go to parties , go to the gym guys ;)
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) March 15, 2015
Where are my all HATERS now??? I think now you know who is who!!!
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) March 15, 2015
I told everyone @RdosAnjosMMA is going to smash Pettis. Now everyone needs to make a shirt 'Khabib Knows'@danawhite @lorenzofertitta
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) March 15, 2015
Nurmagomedov defeated dos Anjos by unanimous decision nearly a year ago. He is expected to fight Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in May to determine the next contender for the UFC title.
The future title picture hinges on the health of dos Anjos, who admitted to fighting on a torn MCL during the UFC 185 post-fight press conference.
Jordy McElroy is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA writer for Rocktagon and FanRag Sports.
