“Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov knew how to enter into conflict when necessary. But he understood when it was necessary to defuse the situation.” – Makhachev

Russian UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev On he spoke about training under the leadership of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, as well as about the authority of the specialist.

Nurmagomedov has trained Makhachev and Bellator champion Usman Nurmagomedov, and also led his son Khabib to the UFC lightweight title. The specialist died on July 3, 2020.

— Do you really miss Abdulmanap?

– Certainly. I can’t describe it in words. We all train, the gym is full, but at times the discipline starts to falter. Our training before and now is not much different, but at the time when Magomedovich was with us, the discipline was at a different level. There weren’t those “ha-ha” and “hee-hees” before and after training. Everyone knew that after class, there was still work to be done. Everyone knew what to do. It’s not about playing basketball, because there’s a rope, a punching bag, a horizontal bar, bars, a gym for swinging – everyone had a program.

— It turns out that it’s easier now?

– Yes, but it stays with me. For me, it has not disappeared, because it has developed over the years, and established itself. But young people don’t feel it yet.

— They said that when Khabib trains, everything is already…

– The apple never falls far from the tree. Khabib borrowed many qualities from his father.

— I read that Magomedovitch went to the confrontation in your place.

— There were moments, but not really confrontations. When something happened, he would tell us: “Guys, no one will fight with you in the street!” For this reason, avoid conflict situations, as it is rare for someone to fight with an MMA fighter on the street. For this reason, you need to be more careful. Where it was necessary to enter into conflict, he knew how to enter into conflict. But he understood where the situation needed to be softened and defused. He knew how to do that too.

I remember that in Kyzyl-Yurt, I think there was a confrontation. It’s already a mess over there. Then it was necessary [определить], them or us. A sequel was planned. Abdulmanap came, gathered us all together and said: “Everyone fought! They are fighters! Maybe they beat you somewhere, but this question needs to be resolved. We thought there would be a sequel. We were already waiting, but it’s good that Magomedovich collected and explained. That’s all! There are no more hard feelings.

— Are there moments in your career that bring tears to your eyes?

— When I won the belt, if Magomedovitch had been with me then, [хотел бы] look at his emotions. There is a kind of void. Because that’s when, not even during the fight, but afterwards, when they put the belt on me, [хотел] to see how happy he would be, what he would say to me,” Makhachev told .

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