WATCH: Rare video of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father training Islam Makhachev at 1750 meters above sea-level

WATCH: Rare video of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father training Islam Makhachev at 1750 meters above sea-level

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev (L), Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov (R)

“Train hard, fight easy” was the mantra of the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. You can see his disciples Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov upholding the same values as their mentor.

Islam Makhachev is the newly crowned UFC lightweight champion, following in the footsteps of his teammate, and childhood friend, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Both of the Dagestani fighters were molded by Khabib’s father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Makhachev, after winning the belt credited his success to the late Nurmagomedov, who passed away in the year 2020.

YouTube video

A rare video on the internet shows the legendary Abdulmanap training a young Khabib and Islam in the crazy mountains of Dagestan. In the video, the late coach reveals the mountains are 1750 meters above sea level surrounded by pine forests which make it harder for training. The video suggests that Islam and Khabib weren’t the only fighters in this mountain training camp.

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Fighters from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Chechnya, Holland, Croatia, Ukraine, and the USA visited these mountains to help them train for their championship fights. Makhachev and Khabib have been training partners their entire life and this video shows the late coach advising Makhachev to go against Nurmagomedov in a wrestling session.

Read more: Throwback to the time when Dana White laughed at Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov for saying this

Khabib Nurmagomedov says Islam Makhachev was like a son to his father

Islam Makhachev Khabib father
Islam Makhachev (L) with Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov (R) – IMAGO / ITAR-TASS

Islam Makhachev was not any ordinary student of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. The talented lightweight was Khabib’s father’s favorite student. The fighter from Makhachkala was always destined for greatness according to Khabib’s father. Ahead of Makhachev’s fight at UFC Vegas 49, “The Eagle” revealed the bond between Makhachev and his father.

Also read: “Don’t joke with my father” – Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father effortlessly picked up Islam Makhachev at the age of 55

“He was my father’s favorite 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 finish what my father beginning,” said Khabib Nurmagomedov on UFC destined talking about Islam Makhachev.

Just like the late Abdulmanap wished, Makhachev went on to become the lightweight champion of the world, bringing back the belt to Dagestan. UFC 280 was an emotional rollercoaster for Khabib and Islam as they fulfilled “father’s plan”.

Also read: Islam Makhachev’s emotional message to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father after becoming champion will bring tears to your eyes