Islam Makhachev will aim to extend his title defense to three at UFC 302 against Dustin Poirier. Makhachev had already become the pound-for-pound king in the UFC, the second lightweight to be one after his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Makhachev is grateful to two people for his UFC success.
When Makhachev won the vacant undisputed lightweight title at UFC 280, defeating Charles Oliveira via second-round submission, he placed the title on Nurmagomedov’s shoulder. He credited Nurmagomedov and his father, Abdulmanap, for his success. In the recent UFC 302 Countdown episode, he again paid tribute to the father-son duo.
I give the belt to Khabib [Nurmagomedov] because I know who made me. Him and his father [Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov].
Islam Makhachev via UFC 302 Countdown
Makhachev revealed he began training when he was 7 or 8 years old, and Abdulmanap was his first coach. The day he began training, Makhachev was acquainted with the whole Nurmagomedov family. Abdulamnap was not there to witness Makhachev’s UFC triumph as he succumbed to complications of COVID-19 in 2020, but his son was.
No lightweight champion has defended the title more than three times. Makhachev has already predicted he would break the record. Anderson Silva‘s winning streak record is also in the sights of the Russian. When it’s all said and done, there is a possibility the MMA community would laud Makhachev as a better lightweight than his mentor.
Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov’s relationship with Islam Makhachev
Abdulmanap, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father, is the most decorated Combat Sambo coach in the Russian Federation. Under Abdulmanap’s guidance, 18 fighters have become world champions in Combat Sambo.
Islam Makhachev and Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov (Image via: Instagram)After the rise of MMA, Abdulmanap quickly transitioned the Sambo skills of his students to MMA. He found great success with his son. However, his favorite student was not his son but Islam Makhachev. Abdulmanap once spoke about his relationship with Makhachev.
He’s [Islam Makhachev] been with me for 20 years now. We spend time together with at home with our families, at training camps, at competitions. Can there be such a relationship with ‘just an athlete?’ No. This is more than just a student and coach.
Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov via Russian Interview
Even before he was not a ranked contender, Abdulmanap had predicted Makhachev would destroy everything in his path and become the champion. It went exactly as Abdulmanap predicted, as Makhachev went on a long winning streak before he became the champion.
Except for a hiccup against Adriano Martins, nobody was able to beat Makhachev en route to the title and after. However, he did have close fights with Arman Tsarukyan before he became champion and against Alexander Volkanovski after he became the champion.
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