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Khabib Nurmagomedov recently joked that Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls would struggle to survive a game of Dagestan basketball. It is a rugged version of the sport focused on raw strength and athleticism.During a recent Q&A session with S Khalil, Nurmagomedov said:"Chicago Bulls, they have different rules, but in Dagestan basketball, there are no rules. You can wrestle, you can choke people, you can do whatever you want."Check out Khabib Nurmagomedov's comments below:Dagestan basketball isn’t a formal sport but a wild, full-contact hybrid born out of MMA training camps in the mountains. Dribbling isn’t mandatory, wrestling is allowed, and chokes are part of the game.Players sprint across wrestling mats, tackling each other for possession, often with a half-inflated ball that barely bounces. The result is more about dominance, conditioning, and toughness.'The Eagle' has long expressed admiration for Jordan, calling him one of the greatest athletes he’s ever studied. He first discovered Jordan’s story through 'The Last Dance' documentary and was struck by the mindset behind his success.For Nurmagomedov, Jordan’s drive, obsession with winning, and mental toughness particularly stood out. He even said that the documentary inspired him while working on his own.When Daniel Cormier hailed Khabib Nurmagomedov as the Michael Jordan of MMADaniel Cormier claimed in the past that if any UFC fighter deserves to be called the Michael Jordan of mixed martial arts, it’s Khabib Nurmagomedov. The former lightweight champion retired unbeaten at 29-0, and left behind a standard of dominance few could match.Cormier, who trained alongside the Dagestani for years at the American Kickboxing Academy, pointed to his perfect record and mental composure as rare traits in combat sports. Even in retirement, his influence continues through his fighters like Islam Makhachev and Usman Nurmagomedov.Speaking in an episode of ESPN MMA's Good Guy/ Bad Guy, Cormier said:"I mean, it’s got to be Khabib. He never lost, right? Think about this. Jordan made the finals. Jordan never lost in the finals. So, if we’re talking about that, then yes. If you take everything [Jon] Jones ever did, obviously, he’s in that conversation. But it’s Khabib for me."
