By InfoBliq 
Khabib Nurmagomedov stands as the most statistically dominant fighter in UFC lightweight history, having retired with a perfect professional MMA record of 29 wins and zero losses. As we examine his career in 2025, five years after his retirement, “The Eagle’s” numbers remain unmatched in their combination of volume and perfection. His UFC record of 13-0 represents absolute dominance in the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, where he captured and defended the lightweight championship. Despite retiring in October 2020, Khabib’s statistical legacy continues to influence modern MMA, with his protégés like Islam Makhachev carrying forward the Dagestani fighting excellence that made these numbers possible.
Overall MMA Record (2025 Updated)
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s professional mixed martial arts career concluded with an unprecedented record of 29 wins, 0 losses, and 0 draws (29-0-0), making him one of only a handful of elite fighters to retire completely undefeated. This statistical perfection reflects not just winning every fight, but dominating the vast majority of them in decisive fashion.
Complete Record Breakdown:
| Record Category | Total | Percentage |
| Total Professional Fights | 29 | 100% |
| Wins | 29 | 100% |
| Losses | 0 | 0% |
| Draws | 0 | 0% |
| Finish Rate | 19/29 | 65.5% |
| Decision Wins | 10/29 | 34.5% |
The 29-0-0 record represents more than numerical perfection – it demonstrates a level of consistent dominance rarely seen in professional combat sports. His 100% win rate across 29 professional fights is extraordinary in a sport where even the greatest champions typically suffer multiple defeats throughout their careers.
Win Percentage Context
Khabib’s perfect 100% win rate is virtually unprecedented among elite MMA fighters with substantial opposition. While some fighters have longer win streaks, none have combined Khabib’s level of opposition with complete statistical dominance throughout an entire professional career.
The statistical significance becomes even more impressive when considering that 13 of these 29 victories came in the UFC against the world’s best lightweight fighters. His ability to maintain perfection while facing increasingly elite competition demonstrates the exceptional nature of his skill set and approach to mixed martial arts.
Methods of Victory Breakdown
Khabib’s victory methods reveal the well-rounded nature of his fighting approach, with submissions being his most common finish method, followed by knockouts and technical knockouts, and decision victories when fights went the distance.
Victory Method Statistics
| Method | Count | Percentage of Total Wins | UFC Only |
| Submissions | 11 | 38% | 4 |
| KO/TKO | 8 | 28% | 2 |
| Decisions | 10 | 34% | 7 |
Submission Dominance: With 11 submission victories representing 38% of his total wins, Khabib demonstrated exceptional grappling skills that went beyond simple control. His signature submissions included rear-naked chokes, triangle chokes, and neck cranks, with many coming against high-level grapplers who were supposedly equipped to handle his ground game.
Striking Power: His 8 KO/TKO victories (28% of wins) showcase the evolution of his striking throughout his career. While not primarily known as a striker, Khabib’s ground-and-pound and standing striking became increasingly effective, particularly in his later UFC fights.
Decision Mastery: His 10 decision victories (34% of wins) were typically dominant unanimous decisions where he controlled every aspect of the fight. These weren’t close decisions but rather systematic dismantling of opponents over three or five rounds.
Fighting Style Reflected in Numbers
These statistics reveal Khabib’s tactical approach: secure takedowns, achieve dominant position, and either finish the fight through submission or strikes, or control the action completely enough to win every round decisively. The relatively even distribution across finish methods shows his adaptability and complete skill set.
UFC Record Analysis
Khabib’s UFC record of 13 wins and 0 losses represents one of the most dominant runs in promotional history. His UFC career spanned from 2012 to 2020, during which he faced and defeated the lightweight division’s elite while establishing himself as one of the greatest fighters in the organization’s history.
His perfect 13-0 UFC record also ensured lucrative pay-per-view shares, sponsorships, and bonuses, explaining why discussions about Khabib net worth often highlight his time as lightweight champion.
UFC Career Statistics
| UFC Statistic | Number | Details |
| UFC Record | 13-0 | Perfect record in the promotion |
| UFC Finishes | 8 | 4 submissions, 4 KO/TKO |
| UFC Decisions | 7 | All unanimous decisions |
| Title Fights | 4 | Won title, defended 3 times |
| Main Events | 6 | Headlined major cards |
| Performance Bonuses | Multiple | FOTN, POTN awards |
Championship Reign Statistics
Title Capture: Defeated Al Iaquinta at UFC 223 (April 2018) via unanimous decision to win the vacant lightweight championship.
Title Defenses:
- vs Conor McGregor (UFC 229) – Submission victory (neck crank), 4th round
- vs Dustin Poirier (UFC 242) – Submission victory (rear-naked choke), 3rd round
- vs Justin Gaethje (UFC 254) – Submission victory (triangle choke), 2nd round
His title reign was characterized by complete dominance, with each defense ending in submission victory over elite-level opposition. The championship statistics show not just winning, but methodically dismantling the best fighters the division could offer.
UFC Debut and Early Success
Khabib made his UFC debut against Kamal Shalorus at UFC on FX 1 on January 20, 2012, winning via submission (rear-naked choke) in the third round. This debut immediately established his credentials and began what would become a legendary UFC career.
His early UFC victories over fighters like Abel Trujillo, Rafael dos Anjos, and Darrell Horcher demonstrated consistent improvement and adaptation to the higher level of competition in the world’s premier MMA organization.
Fight History: Major UFC Bouts
Khabib’s UFC career featured several defining moments that established his legacy and demonstrated his statistical dominance against increasingly elite opposition.
Career-Defining Victories
vs Rafael dos Anjos (UFC on Fox 11, April 2014): A dominant unanimous decision victory (30-27 across all scorecards) over the future lightweight champion that announced Khabib as a legitimate title contender. The complete control displayed in this fight became a template for his championship reign.
vs Michael Johnson (UFC 205, November 2016): One of his most memorable performances, submitting Johnson via kimura in the third round while famously talking to him during the fight, telling him to “give up.” This fight showcased both his dominance and his psychological warfare.
vs Edson Barboza (UFC 219, December 2017): Perhaps his most dominant performance, Khabib completely overwhelmed the elite striker Barboza through relentless wrestling and ground control, winning every round decisively and earning universal acclaim for the systematic dismantling of a dangerous opponent.
vs Al Iaquinta (UFC 223, April 2018): The title fight that crowned Khabib as champion, notable for showcasing his improved striking as he kept the fight standing for extended periods while still controlling the action. Won via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-43, 50-43).
Championship Era Highlights
vs Conor McGregor (UFC 229, October 2018): The biggest fight of his career, both commercially and competitively. Khabib dominated McGregor on the ground before finishing him with a neck crank in the fourth round, avenging the personal attacks McGregor had made against his family and religion.
vs Dustin Poirier (UFC 242, September 2019): Demonstrated his ability to adapt mid-fight, initially struggling with Poirier’s striking before adjusting his approach and securing a rear-naked choke submission in the third round. The victory showed his tactical intelligence and finishing ability under pressure.
vs Justin Gaethje (UFC 254, October 2020): His final professional fight showcased his complete skill set, handling the dangerous striker Gaethje through superior positioning and ultimately finishing him with a triangle choke in the second round. The emotional retirement speech that followed created one of the most memorable moments in UFC history.
Statistical Highlights and Dominance Metrics
Khabib’s statistical dominance extends beyond simple win-loss records to encompass the manner and degree of his victories. His numbers in key performance areas demonstrate why he’s considered one of the greatest fighters in MMA history.
Key Performance Statistics
Takedown Success: While specific takedown accuracy percentages vary by source, Khabib’s takedown success rate was among the highest in UFC history, consistently exceeding 50% accuracy against elite-level wrestlers and takedown defenders.
Ground Control Time: Khabib averaged exceptional control time per fight, often controlling opponents for 70-80% of total fight time when fights hit the ground. This statistic reflects his ability to not just take opponents down but maintain dominant positions.
Striking Defense: His striking defense statistics show remarkable efficiency, absorbing very few significant strikes per minute while maintaining forward pressure. This defensive prowess allowed him to implement his game plan without absorbing significant damage.
Round Winning Percentage: On most judges’ scorecards, Khabib won an estimated 95%+ of all rounds he fought in the UFC, with only a handful of rounds being scored for opponents across his entire career.
Never Knocked Down or Cut
Two remarkable statistics that define Khabib’s career: he was never knocked down in 29 professional fights and was never cut or significantly damaged by an opponent. These defensive statistics are as impressive as his offensive achievements.
His ability to avoid significant damage while implementing an aggressive, pressure-heavy fighting style demonstrates exceptional technical skill and fight IQ that set him apart from other elite fighters.
Fighting Style Breakdown Through Numbers
Khabib’s statistical profile reveals the methodical nature of his approach to mixed martial arts, combining superior wrestling with increasingly effective striking and ironclad defensive techniques.
Wrestling and Grappling Metrics
Takedown Dominance: Khabib’s wrestling statistics show consistent ability to take down elite-level opponents, often multiple times per fight. His approach emphasized not just securing takedowns but maintaining control and advancing position once on the ground.
Ground Control Excellence: His ground control time statistics demonstrate his ability to keep fights where he wanted them, neutralizing opponents’ strengths while maximizing his own advantages. This control allowed him to either work toward submissions or dominate through ground-and-pound.
Submission Threat Consistency: With submission attempts in nearly every fight, Khabib’s grappling statistics show constant offensive pressure from dominant positions, forcing opponents to defend rather than mount their own offense.
Striking Evolution
Volume vs Efficiency: Khabib’s striking statistics show relatively low volume but high efficiency, particularly in his ground-and-pound game. His significant strikes per minute were lower than traditional strikers but his accuracy and power were consistently effective.
Ground and Pound Effectiveness: His most dangerous striking came from dominant ground positions, where his statistics show high accuracy and consistent damage accumulation that led to either submissions or TKO victories.
Combat Sambo Foundation
His background as a two-time world champion in combat sambo provided the technical foundation for his MMA statistics. The combination of judo throws, wrestling takedowns, and submission techniques created a unique statistical profile that opponents struggled to match.
Legacy Statistics (2025 Perspective)
Five years after his retirement, Khabib’s statistical achievements continue to influence modern MMA and provide benchmarks for lightweight excellence that remain unmatched.
Unmatched Records Still Standing
Perfect Professional Record: His 29-0 record remains intact and unchallenged, with no active fighter approaching similar statistical perfection against comparable opposition.
UFC Lightweight Dominance: His 13-0 UFC record with three title defenses represents the gold standard for lightweight achievement, with current champion Islam Makhachev being his closest statistical comparison.
Championship Reign Statistics: His 100% finish rate in title defenses (3 submissions in 3 defenses) remains unmatched among UFC lightweight champions.
Influence on Modern Statistics
Dagestani Fighting Success: The statistical success of fighters from Khabib’s region and training environment, including Islam Makhachev’s championship reign, demonstrates the lasting impact of the methods and techniques that created Khabib’s numbers.
Wrestling-Heavy Approach Validation: His statistical dominance has influenced how modern lightweight contenders approach fight preparation and technique development, with superior wrestling and grappling becoming increasingly emphasized.
Hall of Fame Recognition
Inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame on June 30, 2022, Khabib’s statistical achievements received official recognition as among the greatest in promotional history. His inclusion came remarkably quickly after retirement, reflecting the immediate and lasting impact of his numerical dominance.
Current Activities and Continued Influence (2025)
While no longer an active competitor, Khabib remains connected to elite-level MMA statistics through his coaching and development of the next generation of fighters.
Coaching Success Statistics
Islam Makhachev: Under Khabib’s guidance, Islam has achieved his own statistical excellence, becoming UFC Lightweight Champion and maintaining similar dominance metrics to his mentor.
Umar Nurmagomedov: Currently ranked as a top bantamweight contender, Umar’s statistical profile shows the influence of Khabib’s training methods and approach.
Cornermania Return
Despite previous retirement from coaching, Khabib notably returned as a cornerman for Islam Makhachev’s title defenses, including his appearance at UFC 311, demonstrating his continued connection to elite-level competition and statistical achievement.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Khabib’s official MMA record?
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s official professional MMA record is 29 wins, 0 losses, and 0 draws (29-0-0). He retired undefeated after defeating Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in October 2020.
2. Did Khabib ever lose a round?
While Khabib never lost a fight, he did lose a small number of rounds on judges’ scorecards throughout his career. However, the vast majority of rounds were scored in his favor, with most fights being won by wide unanimous decisions.
3. How many UFC fights did Khabib win?
Khabib won all 13 of his UFC fights, maintaining a perfect 13-0 record in the promotion. This included 4 title fights (1 to win the title, 3 successful defenses).
4. Who were Khabib’s toughest opponents?
Based on fight statistics and competitive metrics, his toughest UFC opponents were likely Gleison Tibau (early career), Al Iaquinta (showed improved striking), and Dustin Poirier (early round success before being submitted).
5. What are Khabib’s signature submission statistics?
Khabib recorded 11 career submission victories, with his most notable being triangle chokes, rear-naked chokes, and neck cranks. His UFC title defenses all ended in submission victories.
6. How does Khabib’s record compare to other lightweight champions?
Khabib’s perfect 13-0 UFC record is unmatched among lightweight champions. His three title defense statistics show 100% finish rate, compared to most champions who have decision victories mixed with finishes.
7. What was Khabib’s takedown accuracy?
While exact percentages vary by source, Khabib’s takedown accuracy was consistently among the highest in the UFC, typically exceeding 50% against elite-level opposition with strong takedown defense.
8. Did Khabib ever get knocked down?
No, Khabib was never knocked down in his entire 29-fight professional MMA career. He was also never cut or significantly damaged by any opponent, demonstrating exceptional defensive skills.
9. How many performance bonuses did Khabib earn?
Khabib earned multiple UFC performance bonuses throughout his career, including Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night awards for his most impressive victories and entertaining fights.
10. What makes Khabib’s statistics unique?
Khabib’s combination of perfect record (29-0), elite-level opposition, dominant victory methods, and defensive excellence (never knocked down or cut) creates a statistical profile unmatched in modern MMA history.