UFC 312 star who was KO'd seconds into first prelim once claimed he could beat Khabib Nurmagomedov
02/09/2025 03:12 PM
While Anshul Jubli sees a lot of himself in Khabib Nurmagomedov, one thing they definitely don’t have in common is an undefeated record.
Last night, the Indian warrior, who’s risen to superstardom in his homeland, made his second appearance in the world’s premier promotion.
With the weight of a nation on his shoulders, the warrior, who lost his first outing in the company, was determined to earn his redemption.
Alas, it didn’t exactly work out like that.
Anshul Jubli believes he can beat Khabib Nurmagomedov
On Saturday evening, Anshul Jubli went head-to-head with Quillan Salkilld at UFC 312, inside the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.
With a point to prove, ‘The King of Lions’ was hoping to land a knockout to silence the doubters.
However, after just 19 seconds, the referee was forced to jump in, when a thunderous right hand bounced off the fighter’s forehead and sent him crumbling toward the canvas.
The loss will undoubtedly upset the brawler who believes he can one day become UFC champion, even going as far as comparing himself to the great Khabib Nurmagomedov, who never faced defeat outside of early losses in combat sambo, suggesting that with a bit more experience, he could actually relieve ‘The Eagle’ of his perfect record.
Jubli told Beer Biceps Guy: “If Khabib Nurmagomedov fights me next month, then maybe my chances will be minuscule, but down the line in 5 years, in 2-3 years, the odds will not be overbearing in favor of Nurmagomedov.
“There is no difference between me and Khabib. I have a world champion mindset, I am extremely strong, mentally, nothing can break me, there’s nothing in the world that can break me.”
A version of the video with subtitles has emerged in which the Indian supposedly says: “Maybe I have to survive the first round, and then I can get a knockout in the second round. I can submit Khabib.”
However, some native speakers have claimed that this is not what the athlete said:
While Jubli has undeniably faced more adversity than the Russian had at this stage of his career, if he does indeed have a similar mindset, then there’s every chance he can overcome these early hurdles and one day climb all the way to the pinnacle of the sport.
How did Anshul Jubli make the UFC?
Born in Uttarkashi, Jubli didn’t have the easiest path to MMA superstardom, having to hone his craft in a country that had previously only produced one UFC fighter.
However, in a testament to his talent, he slowly began to make an impression, entering the Road to UFC tournament.
Showcasing skills in abundance, the sportsman won both his contests in the competition to earn a contract in the UFC.
Thus, while his career has currently hit a roadblock, he now has an entire country behind him, hoping he bounces back better than ever.
