In an intimate revelation during the podcast, Mohammed Alaqraa shared a profound story of how Khabib Nurmagomedov went above and beyond to support him during his early MMA career.
Alaqraa disclosed that when he was struggling financially and seeking sponsors, Khabib stepped in with remarkable compassion.
“I want to tell you a story that no one knows. And my, when I say it now, he will be angry.
When I came back from America, I finished my study visa. So I changed it to a tourist visa. I had just signed a contract in PFL. I went to Kuwait to see my parents for two weeks so that I could renew my visa and go straight to America.
America refused the visa.
Now, I want you to think with me. I had just signed the most important contract in my life. My fight was in two months, and I couldn’t go to the place where I train. So where do I go? What do I train?
I couldn’t train in Kuwait.
I talked to Khabib. I told him, “Coach, I don’t know what to do.”
He told me, “Come to Russia.”
He told me, “Don’t worry about anything. The visa, the accommodation, the plane—everything.”
He covered everything. And the biggest sponsor was Khabib.
That’s why in my first fight, I wanted to finish my opponent. Because I wanted to give this one to Khabib. He didn’t say anything. He just said, “don’t worry about anything, and we will figure it out from here.”
No one does that.
Let me tell you something—this is my story. I don’t know how many people Khabib helped. No one knows.
Khabib told me when he sponsored me for the first fight:
“Brother, you don’t need anything else. You have food, accommodation, and sparring partners. This is all you need.”
The support wasn’t just financial. Khabib provided comprehensive assistance that went far beyond typical sponsorship.
Alaqraa emphasized the depth of Khabib’s support, noting that when he was broke and uncertain about his future, Khabib believed in him unconditionally. This support was transformative, allowing Alaqraa to focus entirely on his training and career development.
Mohammad Alaqraa (7-1-0) is a Pro training out of AKA, Khabib’s longtime US base.
