The former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has good reasons to cherish his memories as an athlete.
Khabib was one of the best lightweights the world has ever seen. He retired undefeated after 29 bouts. During his 13-fight run in the UFC that eventually led to the title, “The Eagle” dominantly beat quite a few of the best athletes around.
Khabib beat names like Rafael dos Anjos, Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, Conor McGregor, among others.
During his days, Khabib revolutionized grappling in MMA.
His wrestling-heavy style of relentless pressure against his opponents, while also continuing to improve position and landing hard ground and pound changed the way wrestling was seen in the sport.
For his incredible accolades in the sport, Khabib was recently inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
Nowadays, Nurmagomedov focuses on promoting his MMA organization “Eagle FC”. On top of that, Khabib also works as an MMA coach and training partner for Russian fighters like Islam Makhachev, Umar Nurmagomedov, Usman Nurmagomedov, and Abubakar Nurmagomedov.
Recently, Khabib published a video of the preparations his team was making ahead of Islam Makhachev’s fight again Bobby Green at UFC Vegas 49.
In the video, Khabib can be seen putting on the UFC gloves. The former champion couldn’t help but smile. Khabib was visibly emotional as he seemed to recall his days as a fighter.
“I know what you want to ask me. Just be quiet.” The former champion told Will, the cameraman for his Youtube channel.”
“Will, let me enjoy this moment,” Khabib says, smelling his gloves. “Always the same… same smell.”
“Be close with your parents… because you never know what’s going to happen tomorrow.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov retires from MMA in tears as he promised his mother that he will not go to fight after his father’s deathpic.twitter.com/mxCHZNf7OE
— TRT World (@trtworld) October 24, 2020
Khabib’s efforts paid off as Makhachev was able to completely dominate Green and TKO him in a matter of minutes.