When Khabib Nurmagomedov forced Dana White’s hand into giving teammate a second shot in UFC despite illegal act

Loyalty and brotherhood are second nature for Khabib Nurmagomedov and his team, as they have demonstrated the deep-rooted connection several times during their ascent in the UFC. Nurmagomedov's pathbreaking journey in the Las Vegas-based promotion paved the way for several fighters from the team and he has continued to support them even in times of difficulty.

That commitment was put to the test when Zubaira Tukhugov, a former UFC fighter, was on the verge of being removed from the organization for his involvement in the infamous UFC 229 brawl. Nurmagomoedov and Conor McGregor's bitter rivalry spilled over into a full-blown melee after the Dagestani secured a fourth-round submission victory over 'The Notorious.'

'The Eagle' jumped into the crowd and attacked McGregor's teammate Dillon Danis, while Tukhugov and a bunch of members from Nurmagomedov's entourage, punched McGregor inside the cage. Tukhugov was fined and suspended by the NSAC and released from the promotion for his part in the unfortunate event.

However, Nurmagomedov leveraged his newfound fame in the sport and put his foot down to ensure that Tukhugov secured a spot on the UFC roster. Speaking with Aslanbek Badaev regarding Nurmagomedov's support, he said:

"Nobody has ever revealed it. I got suspended. My contract was terminated. Khabib said, ‘Zubaira will fight first then I will fight, too. After the McGregor fight, the UFC really needed Khabib. So, they gave me a new contract. They also promised to put me on the Abu Dhabi card [UFC 242: Nurmagomedov vs. Poirier] with Khabib and Islam [Makhachev].”

Catch Tukhugov's comments below:

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Tom Aspinall weighs in a potential fight between Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov

Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov are arguably two of the most dominant lightweight champions in the history of the UFC. Both fighters have registered four title fight wins, and with time on his side, Makhachev can very well eclipse 'The Eagle' and lead the charge for most title fight wins in the organization's divisional history.

However, fight fans for long have speculated on a fantasy fight between the two Russian lightweight sensations. UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall weighed in on the hypothetical matchup in an interview with Froch on Fighting and said:

"I actually think Islam might take it, I think he's a bit of a better striker, I think he's a more dangerous striker. I think grappling wise they're very similar, I reckon Islam might take that... I think the question is obviously when they're both in their prime innit? So I would say Islam's a little bit better.''

Catch Aspinall's comments below: