Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos compared Khabiba Nurmagomedova and Kamaru Usman, with whom he entered the octagon.
“Definitely Usman was a more difficult opponent. I can tell you this because 12 weeks before the Khabib fight I trained in a cage and my ear got stuck in the mesh. I tore it. I had 14 stitches, I almost lost my ear. So I didn't really train and wrestle before this fight. Before the fight with Khabib, I didn’t have any fights or grappling. I worked more with my legs and knees, sparring and so on. Before the fight with Usman, I really fought a lot, but he still translated and controlled me. It was a five-round fight, and I felt that Usman was a stronger opponent for me."