Khabib Nurmagomedov and and his father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov give a press conference in Moscow on November 26, 2018. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP) (Photo credit should read KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
Khabib Nurmagomedov has set his heart to achieve his father’s vision of seeing Islam Makhachev as a future champion
‘Father’s plan’ is something you often hear when any fighter from the Eagle’s MMA team competes. The fight team is extremely loyal to the foundation and teachings put forward by Khabib Nurmagomedov’s late father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.
Although Khabib was the alpha in a team full of Dagestani warriors forged by Abdulmanap, his favorite student astonishingly was Islam Makhachev.
Many fighters, even in his adopted fight family at American Kickboxing Academy, have considered Makhachev to be the most well-rounded fighter in the camp.
In a fight capsule released by ESPN building up to Islam Makhachev’s fight this weekend, Khabib explains his father’s vision and says that he deeply believed that Makhachev will be a future champion.
“(Islam Makhachev) 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.”
A win this weekend will take Makhachev’s winning streak to 10 fights undefeated and might even guarantee a title shot for him. As for Khabib, he wants to ensure that he fulfils ‘father’s dream’ through ‘father’s plan’.
Jim Miller made octagon history at UFC 48 for tied most wins alongside Cowboy Cerrone. His UFC 48 bout against Nikolas Motta was his 51st professional fight and 39th fight inside the UFC. Miller defeated Dana White Contender series breakthrough Motta by landing a perfectly timed counter right hook and following up with a barrage of ground and pound strikes.
Another UFC legend that made his appearance octagon side was former UFC lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Khabib was beyond impressed by the career resurgence that Miller has embarked on even at this age.
He shared an octagon side view of Miller’s post-fight interview and quoted the tweet,
It is beautiful to see the most dominant fighter in the history of the company pay his respect to a fellow veteran who has now secured the tied most wins inside the UFC octagon now, after having fought the who’s who of the roaster.
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