UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in an interview with , he spoke about his collaboration with Khabib Nurmagomedov before the fight against Alexandra Volkanovski at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi.
Former UFC lightweight champion Nurmagomedov is unofficially a coach alongside Makhachev’s head coach Javier Mendez. Nurmagomedov and Makhachev have long trained together with the father of former UFC champion Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. In early 2023, Khabib officially announced that he would no longer support his team’s fighters.
— You and Nurmagomedov explained why Khabib no longer supports fighters. Does that mean you haven’t even asked him about this possibility once in the last month?
– No, I didn’t ask him, because we know that if Khabib said it, that’s it. He is a man of his word. Of course, if you ask him, if you persuade him, he may agree, but I understand him perfectly. Not only is Islam Makhachev there, but he has a very large team. And then it will begin: someone will be offended if they are in my corner, but they will not go to anyone else. This is not a problem.
— It’s clear that Khabib sometimes attacks young people. Can he talk tough to you during training?
– Maybe. He is older than me. And it makes no difference, one day, one year or three years. I will allow it. And I don’t deny that this can happen. But I don’t give a reason, I do everything according to schedule, I train as he says. But he always has problems with young people, they are inexperienced, they think they understand and know something. Suddenly, they forget something, and he puts them in their place.
— A limited circle of people is allowed to enter the locker room. Typically, seconds and a manager. Will Hasbik… and Khabib Nurmagomedov be in your locker room?
— Khabib won’t be in the locker room, he won’t even be in the arena. And Khasbik, he has a place near the cage, he can even enter the cage, even in the locker room,” Makhachev told .
Russia’s Islam Makhachev will defend his UFC lightweight title against Australia’s Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi. Watch the live broadcast of the tournament on October 21 on the channel from 9:00 p.m. Moscow time.
Source : MatchTV
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
