"I knew he was faking retirement" - Fans give hilarious reactions after spotting Khabib Nurmagomedov lookalike at Paris Olympics

A Khabib Nurmagomedov lookalike at the 2024 Paris Olympics has set the combat sports community abuzz. Several fans have chimed in with hilarious reactions to the striking resemblance that Olympian Magomed Ramazanov bears with Nurmagomedov.

A native of Dagestan, Russia, Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC) is counted among the greatest MMA fighters ever. The 35-year-old former UFC lightweight champion is particularly revered for his wrestling, Sambo, and overall grappling prowess. The UFC icon retired from MMA in Oct. 2020.

Meanwhile, Ramazanov is a Dagestan-born Bulgarian amateur wrestler. He's competed in multiple weight classes and currently wrestles in the 86-kilogram (189-pound) weight division. Representing Bulgaria, the 31-year-old Ramazanov recently captured the gold medal in freestyle wrestling at 86 kgs at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Incidentally, Nurmagomedov and Ramazanov are both of Avar descent.

Check out an image of Ramazanov below:

Fight fans have emphasized the similarity in Khabib Nurmagomedov and Magomed Ramazanov's appearances. In the wake of Ramazanov's Olympic success, an X user tweeted an image of him and jestingly questioned what Nurmagomedov was doing at the Olympics.

One fan reacted by deeming Ramazanov the "blonde Khabib" whereas another indicated that the individual was Nurmagomedov's upgraded platinum version. A commenter referenced the 'White Walkers' from the U.S. television series 'Game of Thrones' (adapted from the U.S. novel series, 'A Song of Ice and Fire') and opined that the 'White Walker' form of Nurmagomedov has arrived.

Alternatively, one fan insinuated that they bore a resemblance due to possible inbre*ding. A commenter joked that Nurmagomedov disguised himself by dyeing his hair. Another X user alluded to the iconic Japanese anime 'Dragon Ball Z' and highlighted that 'The Eagle' had transformed into his 'Super Saiyan' form.

A netizen jibed at Khabib Nurmagomedov's alleged tax issues, while another hilariously alluded to the legendary video game 'Street Fighter' and wrote:

"If Khabib was a character at Street Fighter, this dude would be the second player's option."

Another observer wrote:

"I knew he was faking retirement"

Check out the screenshots of a few tweets below:

Screenshots of tweets

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Magomed Ramazanov addresses being confused with Khabib Nurmagomedov

In a video posted to the 'yuka_MMA' YouTube channel, Magomed Ramazanov can be seen discussing his appearance being compared to that of Khabib Nurmagomedov.

He implied that it was nearly impossible for him to walk around in Turkey, as most people would want to interact with him because they thought he was Nurmagomedov:

"There were many moments, people confused me with him."

Ramazanov recalled driving home from a competition, a fan spotted him from afar and thought he was Nurmagomedov. He noted that he generally tells people that he isn't 'The Eagle,' but he didn't want to upset the person which is why he played along on that occasion.

Furthermore, when asked if he'd like to meet Khabib Nurmagomedov and talk to him, Magomed Ramazanov replied by saying:

"We are from the same neighborhood. I hope to see him someday. I'll shake his hand. He is a 'Man' with a Capital letter. At such a level of fame, maintaining masculine qualities is very difficult. Many people who get money and power, all of them lose themselves. But this man always behaved with dignity; then and when he became famous."

Check out Ramazanov's comments below: