RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 30: Khabib Nurmagomedov of Russia is interviewed by Joe Rogan after his unanimous-decision victory over Edson Barboza in their lightweight bout during the UFC 219 event inside T-Mobile Arena on December 30, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) | Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
The great Khabib Nurmagomedov is back in the United States.
“The Eagle” is in town for UFC 330 , as he’ll be helping his longtime friend and teammate Islam Makhachev prepare for his latest title defense opposite Ian Machado Garry . While in the US, Khabib appeared on Lex Fridman’s podcast for a three hour interview. Nurmagomedov is not fluent in English, so the interview was actually recorded in Russian before the audio was translated.
Years ago, Nurmagomedov expressed interest in appearing on the Joe Rogan Experience but was concerned that his English speaking skills weren’t up to snuff. While talking with Fridman, Khabib explained how highly he thought of Rogan’s influence on the UFC and declared his eventual appearance on JRE to be “inevitable.”
🎙️🦅Khabib says he wants to go on Joe Rogan podcast and says it is “inevitable”: “If we're talking about the people most responsible for promoting the UFC, second place, without question, goes to Joe Rogan. What he's achieved in his own field, what he's achieved in podcasting,… pic.twitter.com/SoZ02y3ZAI
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) August 12, 2026
“If we’re talking about the people most responsible for promoting the UFC, I’d put Dana [White] first,” Khabib Nurmagomedov began. “Second place, without question, goes to Joe Rogan. It’s honestly hard to imagine the UFC without him. It’ll be hard when he’s no longer part of it. What he’s achieved in his own field, what he’s achieved in podcasting; he’s the best. What he’s built, the way he commentates, the way he communicates, his knowledge, his charisma, the way he carries a conversation — I think a lot of people could learn from him. As for me going on his podcast, I think it’s inevitable. God willing if we’re given the time and the health we’ll have a lot to talk about. There are so many different topics we could discuss together, so a conversation with Joe Rogan would be very interesting.”
Ronda Rousey disagrees.
Khabib’s three-hour interview with Fridman covered everything from Dagestan warrior culture, street fighting, and facing Conor McGregor . For fans of “The Eagle,” it’s definitely worth a listen until that eventual visit to the JRE headquarters in Austin, Texas.
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