‘Finish what my father began’- Khabib Nurmagomedov reveals huge motivation to corner Islam Makhachev in his quest for the title


‘Finish what my father began’- Khabib Nurmagomedov reveals huge motivation to corner Islam Makhachev in his quest for the title

Islam Makhachev-Khabib Nurmagomedov

For Islam Makhachev to become a UFC champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov like his duty to help in fulfilling this goal of Islam as well as Khabib’s father late great Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Islam is very close to a title shot and he probably might be the next in line after this weekend if he wins against lightweight Bobby Green at UFC on Vegas 49.

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Islam Makhachev UFC 267
Islam Makhachev at UFC 267 submitting Dan Hooker

Makhachev is 21-1 in his overall MMA career and 13 finishes so far. He is on a 9-fight winning streak and hasn’t been defeated since October of 2015. It was Makhachev’s last win, a first-round submission of Dan Hooker at UFC 267 in October 2021 that caught the eyes of the world in relation to what the Khabib Nurmagomedov protege and American Kickboxing Academy’s product is capable of.

Khabib Nurmagomedov talks Islam Makhahchev being his father’s favourite student

Islam Makhachev- Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov
Islam Makhachev- Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov

At ESPN MMA’s exclusive UFC Destined, Khabib talks about what Makhachev meant to the former’s father who passed away in 2020 due to Covid Complications and was one of the most reputed coaches in the combat sports world.

“[Islam Makhachev] was my father’s favourite student. Islam was, for my father, like his son. My dad always kept saying that Islam is a future champ. That’s why I have to be here and that’s why I have to be here and that’s why I have to finish what my father beginning,” says Nurmagomedov.

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What do you make of Khabib’s statements on Islam’s goal of becoming a champion? Well, when the late great Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov passed away, it wasn’t difficult just for Khabib, but the entire combat circuit of Dagestan was shocked around that time. For the man who was known to have raised 18 world champions in his lifetime, if it happens, then Makhahchev should be considered 19th since he was dear to the legend. Also, who do you think wins between Green and Makhachev?

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