Undefeated former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov retired in 2020. He recently signed a contract to play football with Russian team FC Legion Dynamo. 

It seems like his fighting days really are behind him, confirming his decision to retire after making a promise made to his mother. 

Nurmagomedov had also beaten every top contender along the way, seeing off Justin Gaethje after beating both Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor. 

Here’s a roundup with the best Khabib Nurmagomedov cards, including the latest sets from 2021. 

The Best Khabib Nurmagomedov Cards

A mix of newer and older Khabib cards make the list, with something to suit almost every budget. 

(Remember, graded options are the safest bet, but they’re also the most expensive versions.)

5. 2021 Panini Prizm UFC Khabib Nurmagomedov #181 (eBay)

The 2021 Panini Prizm UFC base collection features horizontal and vertical cards, grouped into separate sets of 100.

Khabib’s card is horizontal. It features an action shot of the fighter as he mauls Justin Gaethje in his last ever octagon appearance. 

Prizm parallels are numerous, and available in almost every colour of the rainbow. Many are reasonably affordable, even if you’re looking at gem mint PSA graded cards.

• 2021 Base Horizontal Set Parallels: Silver, Green, Red (/275), Blue (/199), Purple (/149), Orange (/99), Premium Box Set (/99), Neon Green (/75), Teal (/49), Pink Pulsar (/42), Green Pulsar (/25), Mojo (/25), Gold (/10), Lucky Envelopes (/8), Octagon (/8), Black (1/1)

4. 2012 Topps UFC Bloodlines Khabib Nurmagomedov RC #12 (eBay)

The next card to make the list is an RC from the ever-popular 2012 Topps UFC Bloodlines set. 

It’s Khabib’s first ever appearance on cardboard, as he plants a fist on the chin of Kamal Shalorus in his UFC debut. 

As a true rookie card, there’s no better option when looking at the rarer parallels, although they’re out of reach for the average collector. 

• 2012 UFC Bloodlines Parallels: Flag (/188), Black (/88), Red (/8), Platinum (1/1), Printing Plates Black (1/1), Printing Plates Cyan (1/1), Printing Plates Magenta (1/1), Printing Plates Yellow (1/1)

2014 Topps UFC Knockout Autographs Khabib Nurmagomedov #KA-KN /149 (eBay)

Moving on to the first ever UFC autograph to feature ‘The Eagle’; another valuable card can be found in the 2014 Topps UFC Knockout collection. 

As always, Khabib is dominant in the action shot, as he big brothers Pat Healy on the way to an easy UD. 

The base version is numbered to 149 copies, and there are three incredibly rare parallels. 

As an added bonus, you can see a large Topps logo on the back of Healy’s shorts as he travels through the sky. 

• 2012 Topps UFC Parallels: Red Ink (/15), Red (/8), Mat (1/1)

2. 2021 Panini Prizm UFC Color Blast Khabib Nurmagomedov #19 (eBay)

Color Blast cards are popular, no matter the athlete or the sport itself. 

Khabib is no exception. He has been immortalised for his role in the mass brawl he sparked by vaulting the cage to attack McGregor’s teammate Dillon Danis after submitting the Irishman in the fourth round at UFC 229. 

It gives the impression that he’s soaring like an eagle in the image, and it has to be seen as one of the most infamous moments in MMA history. 

I wouldn’t be surprised if it shoots up in value rapidly in the years following its release. Keep an eye on prices in the meantime.  

1. 2021 Panini Prizm UFC Khabib Nurmagomedov #CSKBN (eBay)

Unlike many others, the top spot on this list is taken up by a card which definitely isn’t an RC. 

We’re sticking with the latest 2021 Panini Prizm UFC release, and the Champion Signatures set. 

As the name implies, this nine-card subset features autographs from the GOATs of each weight class, including the likes of GSP and Jon Jones.

The fighter is holding his belt in the image, with a large signature filled in blue ink at the bottom. 

• 2012 Panini Prizm UFC Champion Signatures Parallels: Silver, Green, Red (/49), Blue (/35), Mojo (/25), Gold (/10), Black (1/1)

Khabib Nurmagomedov Cards: Buyers Guide 

Khabib has over 30m followers on Instagram, and no end of buyers for his high-end options. 

He’s only likely to come back for a super fight against GSP or McGregor, the latter of which is easily winnable. Now looks to be a great time to buy, especially as history will look kindly upon his legacy. 

If you’re looking for cheap options, any parallel or ungraded early base card could potentially have a great ROI if you’re willing to hold long-term. 

In terms of the best overall investment, the 2012 Bloodlines RC and the 2014 Knockout have solid potential. Especially as Khabib is undefeated and a GOAT contender. 

We would opt for either if you’re looking for the very best investment prices, although the 2021 cards should also be on your radar. 

Final Thoughts

Khabib has a global following of fanatical supporters. After all, he helped to put Dagestan on the map in the world of MMA.

His legacy is sure to endure, and he was the victor in every single one of his battles in the octagon. 

He also beat a prime McGregor back when it meant something. He arguably sent him on the downward spiral that is evident today. 

A return would see even more interest in his cards in the future. Khabib looks to be one of the safer bets in MMA.

The only real issue is the relatively high price of entry.