Oct 6, 2018; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Khabib Nurmagomedov (red gloves) reacts after his fight against Conor McGregor (blue gloves) during UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

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‘What Do You Know About Soccer’ – Khabib Nurmagomedov Gives Soccer History Lessons To Manel Kape

Khabib Nurmagomedov shows off his impressive soccer knowledge with flyweight Manel Kape after retiring from the UFC.

Sports stars often surprise fans with hidden talents. Some play instruments, others collect rare coins. A few might even be secret chess masters. But Khabib Nurmagomedov’s deep soccer knowledge? That’s something fans didn’t see coming from the undefeated UFC legend.

Since hanging up his gloves in October 2020, Khabib Nurmagomedov has rekindled his love for soccer. The Dagestani fighter hasn’t just been kicking a ball around for fun, though. He’s been diving headfirst into the sport’s rich history and statistics. Back in 2021 he put this knowledge on full display when he met UFC flyweight Manel Kape, turning what could have been casual fighter banter into an impromptu soccer history lesson.

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Manel Kape Got A Full History Lesson From The Undefeated Lightweight

Khabib Nurmagomedov is known for his love of soccer. And as such, he launched into Champions League trivia, leaving Manel Kape looking like a student caught unprepared for a pop quiz. ‘The Eagle’ didn’t just name a few teams, he reeled off every Champions League winner since 2005 without missing a beat.

“2005, who win Champions League? 2005, Liverpool, 2006, Barcelona, 2007,Milan, 2008, Mancheter, 2009, Barcelona, 2010, Inter [Milan], 2011, Barcelona, 2012, Chelsea, 2013, Bayern Munich, 2014, Real Madrid, 2015,Barcelona, 2016, 17,18, Real [Madrid CF], 2019, Liverpool and 2020, Bayern Munich.”

Khabib '̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶E̶a̶g̶l̶e̶'̶ 'The Football Encyclopedia' Nurmagomedov ⚽️

Just four minutes of @TeamKhabib spitting facts…get him on your next Zoom quiz 🤣@GaryLineker, @rioferdy5, make space in the studio, we have a new pundit in town 😉 pic.twitter.com/xlTTNzyd5g
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) March 4, 2021

But there is more! Not content with just tournament winners, Khabib Nurmagomedov proceeded to list every Ballon d’Or recipient too. The Ballon d’Or, awarded to the world’s best player each year, represents soccer’s highest individual honor. Khabib Nurmagomedov rattled off names like Messi, Ronaldo, and Modric casually!

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Passion For Soccer

This isn’t Khabib’s first foray into soccer fandom. Long before retiring, he often spoke about his passion for the sport. Growing up in Dagestan, soccer was likely as much a part of his childhood as wrestling. He has publicly supported Real Madrid and has been spotted at major matches during his UFC career. After retirement, his appearances on soccer pitches became more frequent, showing off decent skills for someone who spent most of his life perfecting armbars instead of bicycle kicks.

The exchange with Kape reveals something interesting about elite athletes. Their competitive nature often extends beyond their primary sport. The same mind that memorized countless grappling techniques and fighting strategies has applied that focus to learning soccer history!

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Khabib Nurmagomedov

Manel Kape

Zaid Quraishi

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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!