UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has revealed his top, all-time fantasy fight we never got to see in the Octagon.
The undefeated Russian has had plenty of time to think it over since his surprise 2020 retirement - and he told MatchTV via Lenta that a super-size MMA mega-fight absolutely intrigues him.
"If just a fantasy, then I would take Brock Lesnar - a heavyweight," said Khabib. "And it would be possible to make him a fight, with Fedor Emelianenko, in Russia."
'The Last Emperor' against 'The Beast Incarnate' - bring it on.
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"It would be interesting to organise a fight between the stars of Russian and American MMA," Khabib added. "By the way, anything can happen."
If #UFC president Dana White booked Fedor Emelianenko vs. Brock Lesnar in 2009, who would have won? 🤔
Lesnar and Emelianenko are two of the sport's biggest box-office draws - with Fedor usually named the greatest MMA fighter never to compete in the UFC. Both are a similar age (Lesnar is a year younger at 43) so this fight could've happened at any stage.
Fedor would likely have started as favourite, but Khabib's "anything can happen" analysis indicates that he wouldn't rule out the chances of WWE star and former UFC heavyweight champ Lesnar.
Nurmagomedov shares this dream fight with Dana White, who once told UFC.com that he came close to putting that exact contest on - only for it to agonisingly fall through.
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"The only fight that I wanted to make that was never made was Brock Lesnar vs Fedor Emelianenko," said White.
"We were going to do it at Texas Stadium. But I couldn't get a deal done with Fedor, so it never happened."
Former PRIDE champion Fedor, who once racked up a 27-fight win streak, still hasn't officially retired from mixed martial arts. He last fought in December 2019, beating fellow veteran Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson.
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Lesnar last entered the Octagon in 2016 and scored a decision win over Mark Hunt (later ruled a no contest after Brock failed a post-fight drug test).
So in theory, the two could still fight in 2021, despite a combined age of 77. However we get the feeling Khabib wanted to see both go at it in their prime in what would've been a beefy grapple-off for the ages.
The BIGGEST MMA Fight of All Time...Fedor vs Lesnar | Cowboys Stadium. The one that got away. Who would've won?! (🎨 by me)
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