Crossovers between MMA and Boxing have always been rare, although not without their share of spectacle. James Toney Step in the octhoek against Randy Couture is often credited as the modern spark of the phenomenon. But the most iconic collision came in 2017, then Conor McGregor crossed to the face Floyd Mayweather In a professional boxing fight that transcended both sports. Surprisingly, what many do not know is that McGregor’s fiercest rival, Khabib NurmagomedovAlso had a chance to fight ‘money’ in another potential blockbuster. The turn? The Dagestani star refused. Calling shocking would be an understatement, but that is exactly what happened.
Khabib Nurmagomedov rejected Floyd Mayweather fight for the promise of mothers and no-sausage clause
In 2021, Nurmagomedov rejected a stunning range of $ 100 million to start Mayweather shortly after announcing his retirement of the UFC. According to his former head coach on the American Kickboxing Academy, Javier MendezThe undefeated Russian rejected the game because Mayweather even refused to allow a single round wrestling.
“There was also a big cash fight against Floyd Mayweather that was thrown around, in boxing,” Mendez explained during a Recent podcast with Hikmat Wehbi.
He added, “He thought about it, no wrestling, only boxing. He was offered a potential match with Floyd Mayweather, and he rejected it. I don’t know if Floyd would have accepted or that Floyd even knew about it, I only know that Khabib rejected it.”
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Khabib rejected a large cash fight with Floyd Mayweather during his UFC career, Javier Mendez reveals. 🤯💰
“There was a big cash fight with Floyd Mayweather that was thrown around, and Khabib rejected it. He was offered, but I don’t know if Floyd would have accepted or … pic.twitter.com/qg8mtcolfc
– Red Corner MMA (@redcorner_Mma) September 8, 2025
This is not the first time that talking about a potential Nurmagomedov vs. Mayweather -fight has surfaced and his rejection has been discussed. Last month the former UFC champion repeated why no amount of money could ever convince him to take that fight.
‘The Eagle’ made it clear that the moral of Mayweather, or the lack thereof, is an important reason that he does not want an association with the boxing legend.
“This is a cash fight, but I will never do this because I respect the inheritance,” Nurmagomedov said during a Q&A session in New York last weekend.
He added, “If you talk about Mayweather as a man, nobody wants to be like him. Look at Mohammed Ali. He is not with us, but he inspired billions of people, not just Muslims.”
In 2021, the manager of Nurmagomedov, Or AbdelasizAlso emphasized the promise that the Dagestani made to his mother after the death of his father, Abdulmanap, in 2020 because of COVID-19. That tragedy is immediately influenced His pension at UFC 254 In just 32 years old after successfully defending his lightweight title for the third time against Justin Gaethje.
It was the first fight of the Hall of Famer without his father in his corner, and then he promised his mother that he would never compete again without the man who formed him in the hunter fans, admired.
Despite the best efforts of Dana White to lure him back, ‘The Eagle’ has never peeled his decision and not only rejected a massive payment day against Mayweather, but also a blockbuster opportunity against his hero Georges St-Pierre on 165 pounds. In both cases ‘the eagle’ held on to his word and honored the promise he made to his mother.
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