Russian fighter Umar Nurmagomedov in an interview with , he spoke about the help of his first cousin, former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedova in preparation for battles.
In early 2023, Khabib announced that he would stop acting as a second-in-command to his team’s athletes and finally leave MMA as a public servant and coach. Previously, he actively participated in the preparation of Islam Makhachev, Shamil Zavurov, as well as his first cousins, Umar and Usman Nurmagomedov.
On March 2, Umar Nurmagomedov will face Bekzat Almakhan at the UFC Fight Night 238 tournament. For a fighter from Kazakhstan, this fight will be the first in the American promotion.
— When you injured your knee, Khabib said you had to pass a certain test from him, after which he would say you could return to fighting. Was there anything similar now?
– Then it meant I could wrestle, fight, spar. It’s the same now. It was just necessary for me to be able to play. And for that you have to undergo a full-fledged fight. Usually I consulted him before accepting the fight and playing.
— Khabib said he wanted to walk away from sports. What kind of communication do you have with him now, how often do you call and get advice from him?
— We called each other a few days ago. So, I write to him every day: how I am, how I feel. It’s not that he moved away from the fighting and at the same time moved away from us. He moved away from the competition, from the area. But he didn’t escape us.
—Has he watched at least one of your opponent’s fights, or is he giving more motivational advice?
– Of course, I looked. Can provide advice and recommendations on tactics. He watches my fights too, we send him sparring all the time. Then when I get home, he corrects my mistakes. I tell you, he has not left us. He moved away from the octagon, he’s not there during fight week, but in general the life we had before continues. He is there for you in everything, he helps you in everything, as he helped you before,” Nurmagomedov told .
Live broadcasts of mixed martial arts tournaments can be seen on and Match! Fighter”, as well as on the sites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.
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.
