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Khabib Nurmagomedov Takedown & Grappling Technique Breakdown

Khabib Nurmagomedov Takedown & Grappling Technique Breakdown

Khabib Nurmagomedov is famous for many things – one of them being a saying: “If Sambo was easy, it would be called jiu-jitsu” .

Khabib Nurmagomedov is an undefeated Russian mixed martial artist of Avar ethnicity. He is a two time Combat Sambo World Champion, a freestyle wrestler and a Judo black belt who currently fights in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He currently holds one of the longest undefeated streaks in MMA with 24 wins. Since 2017, he has been ranked the #2 contender in the UFC Lightweight division by several ranking authorities.

His grappling background is world class. Like many children in Dagestan he began wrestling from an early age; at the age of six under the tutelage of his father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. A decorated athlete and a veteran of the Army, his father Abdulmanap had also wrestled from an early age before training in judo and sambo in the military. In 2001, his family moved to Machachkala. There, at the age of 12, he trained in wrestling, and from age 15 he began training in judo. After turning 17, he began training in combat sambo under his father. According to Khabib, the transition from wrestling to judo was difficult, but his father wanted him to get used to competing in a gi jacket. Abdulmanap is currently a senior coach for the combat sambo national team in the Republic of Dagestan, training several athletes in sambo and wrestling in Makhachkala, Russia. Khabib would frequently get into street fights in his youth, before focusing his attention to mixed martial arts.

Khabib Nurmagomedov holds a International Master of Sport in Sambo, a Black belt in Judo, a International Master of Sports in Pankration, a International Master of Sports in Army Hand-to-Hand Combat.

His Grappling competition achievements:

Sambo

World Combat Sambo Federation:
2009 World Combat Sambo Championships (-74 kg) Gold Medalist
2010 World Cup in Combat Sambo (-82 kg) Silver Medalist
2010 World Combat Sambo Championships (-82 kg) Gold Medalist
Combat Sambo Federation of Russia
2009 Russian Combat Sambo Championships (-74 kg) Gold Medalist
All-Russian Sambo Federation
Russian Combat Sambo National Championships 21st (2010) (World Team Trials-FIAS)

Grappling
NAGA World Championship
2012 Men’s No-Gi Expert Welterweight Champion
2012 ADCC Rules No-Gi Expert Welterweight Champion

Here is a breakdown of his takedown strategy and techniques and analysis of how it has evolved over his career from the Bear to the UFC.

Here is an analysis and study of the grappling and ground game strategies used by Khabib Nurmagomedov. Including his passing strategies, ground and pound techniques and methods of control.