Following Islam Makhachev’s brilliant victory over Charles Oliveira, Khabib Nurmagomedov stepped into the octagon and carried the new lightweight champion on his shoulders. Islam won a title that Khabib lost after his retirement in 2020 as the undefeated champion. In an emotional moment, Makhachev handed over the belt to Khabib, saying:
“I just want to say that my belt goes to Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov [Khabib’s late father]. Many years ago he told me train hard and you will be a champion. I want to give away this belt… He [Khabib] and his father – they made me.”
Khabib and Makhachev are not related, but have trained together for more than two decades.
Khabib and Makhachev may look alike, but they are not related. They hail from the Dagestan region of Russia and have trained together for more than two decades. “All our lives, all our lives we trained together,” Nurmagomedov said after Islam’s victory.
“22 years we trained together, and the last two years, I told them, Islam Makhachev is the best fighter.” The pair trained under Khabib’s late father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, until he passed away in 2020 due to coronavirus complications.
Khabib fought once more after Abdulmanap’s death before retiring as he had promised his mother. Nurmagomedov replaced his father and became Islam’s coach. After Islam’s victory, Khabib said that the newly crowned champion was his father’s favorite student.
Nurmagomedov’s team reportedly spent $1 million preparing Islam for his fight against Charles Oliveira. The investment paid off as Makhachev dominated the fight en route to a second round win.
Khabib said he was nervous before the fight, but Makhachev allayed his fears with a commanding performance. Nurmagomedov said that Islam deserved victory:
“I look at his whole life, the last 20 years, the way he works so hard, his amateur career, his professional career, and now he’s almost [there]. This is a very tough sport. Anything can happen at any time. Look at Kamaru Usman. He was winning all five rounds, boom, one time, he was done.”
Makhachev said that Khabib is a more demanding coach than his father
Islam Makhachev and Khabib | Chris Unger/Getty Images
islam said Sport that Khabib pushes the fighters more than his father. He told the outlet that Khabib hopes his wrestlers will continue for longer. Islam explained:
“I think so [tougher coach than his late father Abdulmanap] because he doesn’t have a lot of experience as a coach, but he puts a lot of pressure on us. For example, this camp, just this week I’ve been training light, but every other month it’s been really hard.
Khabib informed Islam that they would resume training two weeks after his win over Oliveira. Makhachev will need to practice a lot, considering he could face Alexander Volkanovski, the UFC’s number one pound-for-pound fighter, early next year.
Nurmagomedov issued a challenge to Alexander following Khabib’s title fight:
“We’re done with Charles, now it’s our plan: fly to Australia and fight in the backyard of the pound-for-pound king. Volkanovsky, let’s do it. We know we’re going to take this guy down. Volkanovski, we respect you, but we want to take your place, brother.
Dana White, president of the UFC, said he is open to the idea of a fight between Makhachev and Volkanovski.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn