Nurmagomedov rarely responded to the direct insults but spoke when his religion was mentioned - not just by McGregor, but by members of the media. While McGregor showed his typical brash persona during the build-up to the fight, Nurmagomedov remained calm despite McGregor’s countless attempts to get inside his head. The event would be remembered for the brawl that sparked after Nurmagomedov submitted the Irishman in the fourth round. Headlining the event was the long-awaited meeting between Nurmagomedov and McGregor. Faith and milestonesĮverything about UFC 299 in 2018 was intense. He spent the first three years of his career competing for promotions in Russia and Ukraine before entering the UFC with a 16-0 record in 2012. Nurmagomedov made his pro debut in September 2008. “It was a close match, but I think I won by a split decision,” Nurmagomedov joked. Nurmagomedov went on to speak about how his father had a gym at home, and with his father by his side, there was no reason for him to fear the animal. He took me down two times, but I took him down too. “This happens in (the) zoo - it’s like a circus bear,” Nurmagomedov told “MMA Junkie Radio” in 2015. With his rise to popularity in the UFC, old footage of him rolling with a bear surfaced, and questions were raised. One of the most unorthodox practices Nurmagomedov is known for is wrestling with bears as a 9-year-old. At age 5, he began training as a wrestler and later picked up judo and sambo, a Russian way of practicing martial arts that has its origins in the old Soviet Union. His father, Abdulmanap, was a decorated athlete and veteran of the Soviet army.ĭuring his childhood, Nurmagomedov’s father turned the ground floor of their two-story building into a gym, dedicated to training young Dagestani boys in martial arts to help them refrain from the Islamic extremism that had begun to haunt the region.īeing around martial arts inspired the young Nurmagomedov to start training under his father’s mentorship. Nurmagomedov, now 34 and still involved in the sport as a coach, hails from the Republic of Dagestan, a Muslim region in Russia where wrestling is a common practice for young boys and men. Throughout his life and career, Nurmagomedov has shown how important discipline, respect, faith and family can be for a fighter in and out of the cage. Nurmagomedov also holds the record for the longest championship reign at 155 pounds, holding the title from April 2018 until his retirement in October 2020.īut Nurmagomedov’s story goes far beyond his dominance in the octagon. READ: How North American sports leagues connect to religion Nurmagomedov joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2012 and tallied wins against some of the organization’s finest lightweights, including Edson Barboza, Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje and Conor McGregor, who would become his main rival. Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov’s career, however, was the exception.īoasting a flawless 29-0 UFC record, he notched eight wins by knockout and 11 others via submission during a 12-year professional career that made Nurmagomedov among the world’s most-feared UFC combatants. NEW YORK - Not many mixed martial arts fighters can say that they’ve won all of their fights by dominating opponents.
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