Khabib Nurmagomedov was one of the most fearsome fighters to ever grace the Octagon, and his ridiculous record of 29 wins from 29 fights was enough to strike fear into the heart of any fighter he came up against.

His incredible strength and technique saw him storm the division and become the longest-reigning UFC lightweight champion, holding the title for three years.

He fought the best in the division, and the photo further down this article shows the difference after just one round with The Eagle.

The first comparison is Conor McGregor.

The Irishman had a bitter and long-lasting feud with the Russian, but the two finally settled their rivalry in the Octagon at UFC 229.

McGregor tapped out in the fourth round, and it’s easy to see why. After just one round, he looked like he was already beaten, clearly roughed up by Khabib.

Next was Justin Gaethje, who was Khabib’s last ever professional fight. They fought at UFC 254, and after just one round, the American was visibly broken.

Khabib had already done enough damage to end the fight, and just over one-and-half minutes into round two, Gaethje tapped out.

Last is Dustin Poirier, who clashed with the Russian at UFC 242 back in 2019. Poirier lasted three rounds in the Octagon, but he looked beaten after just one.

Khabib has acknowledged his supreme first round ability before, saying: “You have to believe in yourself to fight, but after the first round – they don’t believe.”

Khabib Nurmagomedov opponents

We’re gutted that Khabib walked away after his fight with Gaethje, but we can all appreciate his insane talent and the way he managed to dominate his opponents and affect them after just one round.