The world of combat sports is constantly evolving and it seems as though a new star has emerged in the form of Hasbulla Magomedov, a 3ft 4in Russian with a passion for fighting. Despite his small stature, he has already made waves in the fighting community, signing a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) at just 20 years of age. However, it remains to be seen what role he will play in the MMA promotion headed by Dana White.
Magomedov’s impressive credentials have already earned him the respect of some of the biggest names in combat sports. He counts Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev among his friends and has engaged in verbal sparring with Conor McGregor, one of the most high-profile figures in the sport. He has also reportedly outshone Alexander Volkanovski in more than one encounter.
Despite his success in the UFC, Magomedov has now set his sights on a new challenge: the world of boxing. He recently appeared on Mike Tyson’s popular podcast, Hotboxin’, where he playfully sparred with the former heavyweight champion. Magomedov’s slick boxing skills were on full display as he threw punches at Tyson, who was forced to rely on his world-class defense to avoid being hit.
However, Magomedov eventually found an opening and managed to land several punches on Tyson before the veteran boxer resorted to dirty tactics. In a nod to his infamous bout against Evander Holyfield in 1997, Tyson pretended to bite Magomedov’s ear as the two continued to playfully spar.
Despite this lighthearted encounter, Tyson has not forgotten his roots in professional boxing. He retired from the sport in 2005 after a stoppage loss against Kevin McBride but made a highly anticipated return to the ring in 2020 for an exhibition bout against fellow boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. The fight ended in a split draw, but Tyson’s dominance was evident throughout.
Since then, Tyson has shifted his focus to his podcast, which has become a popular platform for some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment. Although he may no longer be an active fighter, Tyson’s legacy as one of the greatest boxers of all time continues to inspire new generations of fighters, including the up-and-coming Hasbulla Magomedov.
The way Mike Tyson picked up Hasbulla. 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/pRrW5fPouM
— Complex (@Complex) March 21, 2023
