Khabib Nurmagomedov won’t hold his son back, but would rather he didn’t become a fighter
March 9, 2024 12:30 pm ET
SURREY, British Columbia ā Khabib Nurmagomedov doesnāt want his son to follow in his footsteps.
Nurmagomedov retired in October 2020 as an undefeated and undisputed UFC lightweight champion. He is arguably the most dominant fighter to ever step into the cage.
Despite his success as a fighter and a coach, Nurmagomedov prefers if his son pursued different avenues than combat sports. However, he understands that may be difficult as his son is starting to grow curious about MMA.
āI know for sure heās going to train,ā Nurmagomedov said Thursday during an appearance for Class A Events in Canada. āHe will study, but about professional athlete, I donāt know honestly. He just asks me too much questions because when I retired, he was only three years old and he donāt understand nothing. A couple of weeks ago he asked me, āFather, can you fight like Islam Makhachev? Iām like, āWhy you ask?ā (He said,) āBecause heās a very good fighter. I never seen you fight like him.ā Iām like, āOK, this is a very good question.ā
āI told him four years ago, you were only two or three. He was a baby when I was fighting. He tried to ask me can I watch your fights, heās just beginning to bother me. I donāt know how Iām going to deal with him, but personally, I donāt want him to become a professional athlete. But, if he choose, what we can do? Iām not going to hold him (back) or do something, but honestly, I donāt want. I just want him to become a normal human because professional athletes, they are not normal people.ā
Nurmagomedovās cousins have blazed their own successful paths in MMA. Umar Nurmagomedov, whoās fresh off a win over Bekzat Almakhan at UFC Fight Night 238, is a top 10 ranked bantamweight. Also undefeated, Usman Nurmagomedov is Bellatorās current lightweight champion.
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