Undefeated for almost eight years in MMA, former World Extreme
Cagefighting champion Paulo Filho
in 2007 was labeled by Anderson
Silva as the best middleweight fighter in the world.
Known for his effective grappling game, the Carlson Gracie
blackbelt, who has been retired since 2014, recently discussed
Khabib
Nurmagomedov’s win over Justin
Gaethje at UFC 254 with Sherdog.com. Filho offered a definitive
take on the retired lightweight champion’s place among the sport’s
all-time greats.
“Khabib´s win was a lesson to make all MMA fighters recall the
origin of our sport which is martial arts, respect to the master,
respect to your origins,” Filho said. “He showed to the world of
MMA that it´s not necessary to trash talk or disrespect opponents
to be a champion and be popular among fans.
“The numbers never lie — 29-0. In my opinion, after what he did
Saturday, Khabib is the best of all time.”
Filho also revealed that Khabib´s homage to his late father,
Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, made him cry.
“My father was my biggest supporter since I was a kid, taking me to
judo and jiu-jitsu classes every day. I also had a fight a few days
after he passed away, and I know exactly how difficult it must have
been for Khabib to make weight and fight. The scene of him crying
after winning really moved me,” said Filho, who also pointed out
many similarities between his master, Carlson Gracie, and Khabib´s
father.
“I see Abdulmanap as a Russian Carlson Gracie. Besides being
similar physically, they are both great champion makers and people
who support the ones who have talent and no financial advantages,”
he continued. “I have to tell you that when Khabib won via triangle
choke my mother thought I was crazy because I started to jump and
scream like it was one of my teammates of BTT in Pride times. In
addition to his beautiful story with his dad, Khabib showed the
world of MMA that a top grappler still makes a difference in the
sport.”
With Nurmagomedov presumably vacating the lightweight crown, Filho
predicts that Conor
McGregor will once again ascend to the top of the division.
“The only one who was able to neutralize his excellent distance
control was Khabib; all the other top 5 in that division will not
be able to do that,” Filho said. “If Khabib doesn’t return, I see
McGregor as new king of that division.”
Filho also pointed to Khamzat
Chimaev as a strong contender in the UFC’s welterweight
division. “I see him like a Khabib 2.0,” he said.
Additionally, Filho views multi-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world
champion Rodolfo
Vieira as a future middleweight contender.
“There is no way to compare the ground level of Rodolfo
Vieira with any of UFC fighters. He is way above everybody in
all divisions,” Filho said. “Besides that he is also a great
athlete. All he needs is a good Greco guy. If He improves his
approach and Greco technique, in two years, it will be hard to stop
him.”