Oct 22, 2022; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Khabib Nurmagomedov is seen before the fight between Abubakar Nurmagomedov (red gloves) and Gadzhi Omargadzhiev (blue gloves) during UFC 280 at Etihad Arena. Mandatory Credit: Craig Kidwell-USA TODAY Sports
Confidence is essential for any fighter stepping into the UFC Octagon. They need to believe you can beat anyone, even the all time greats. But there’s a fine line between healthy self-belief and making bold claims that backfire spectacularly. When things go wrong inside the cage, those confident statements can haunt them forever. Anshul Jubli learned this lesson the hard way over the past couple of years.
The Indian UFC fighter made history as his nation’s first winner in the promotion back in early 2023. But since then, things have gone downhill fast with two consecutive brutal knockout losses. And those defeats only amplified the criticism he’s received for past comments about fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Anshul Jubli Talks Khabib Comments
Jubli recently released a passionate social media video hitting back at what he calls brainless, brainwashed haters. He explained that clips from a longer interview were taken out of context to make it look like he was disrespecting Khabib Nurmagomedov. According to Jubli, he actually has tremendous respect for ‘The Eagle’ and has incorporated aspects of Khabib’s game into his own fighting style.
The Indian fighter specifically addressed the viral clip where he supposedly said he could submit Nurmagomedov. Jubli claims that particular comment was said in a sense of humor, which people would understand if they watched the full interview instead of short clips. He insisted that anyone who truly knows him understands how much he looks up to Khabib as a fighter and person.
“As you’ve seen, they took small clips from my long interview and made it look like I am disrespecting Khabib. First of all, I don’t give a damn what people think of me. I don’t waste energy on opinions, especially to those brainless, brainwashed haters…People who know me know very well how much I look up to Khabib…I’ve taken a lot from Khabib in my own game. But those who have hate deep inside, they won’t understand this.“
In the original 2023 interview with Ranveer Allahbadia, Jubli had stated that while Nurmagomedov would likely dominate him if they fought next month, the odds wouldn’t be so overwhelming in two or three years. He claimed there’s no difference between himself and Khabib in terms of mindset, mental strength, and championship potential. Those are the kinds of statements that age poorly when you are getting knocked out in under 20 seconds.
Anshul Jubli’s Rough Stretch Inside The Octagon
Jubli’s second-round TKO victory over Jeka Saragih at UFC Vegas 68 in January 2023 made him a national hero. He became India’s very first winner in the UFC and only the country’s second fighter to compete inside the Octagon. The ‘King of Lions’ looked destined for bigger things as he celebrated that historic moment.
But his pursuit of more history has not gone according to plan whatsoever. Jubli (7-2) has lost two fights in a row, both ending in devastating fashion that left fans wincing. First came a memorable comeback loss against Mike Breeden, where things fell apart after a promising start. Then came an even more brutal result at UFC 312 when debuting fighter Quillan Salkilld stopped him in just 19 seconds.
Fans and critics immediately started mocking Anshul Jubli for his earlier comments about Khabib Nurmagomedov. The internet never forgets bold predictions, especially when the person making them can’t back them up with recent wins.
(Image Credit: Craig Kidwell – Imagn Images)
mma
I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!
Read more
mma 
