Khabib Nurmagomedov celebrates Islam Makhachev 's victory in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Khabib Nurmagomedov is considered a legend in MMA and also in the UFC. The former lightweight champion (up to 70,3kg) won all 29 fights he competed in during his career, 13 of them in Dana White's organization. The now-coach has seen his protégé, the current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev , follow in his footsteps. He already has four successful title defenses in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
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The undeniable success of Khabib's school was one of the topics discussed this Tuesday (6) on the world's biggest podcast, hosted by UFC commentator Joe Rogan. During a conversation with guest Cameron Hanes, he shared what he believes to be the main factor for Khabib and Makhachev's success: nothing more than discipline and dedication in training.
“Khabib had incredibly grueling training. That was one of the things that stood out most in his stamina. Their discipline was unparalleled. No girlfriends, no cell phones, no nonsense, no video games. Screw it. We trained. We ate, we recovered, we trained. You want to be a real champion? That's how you have to work. That's how Islam Makhachev is so good. That's how Khabib is so good. These guys are disciplined,” Rogan emphasized.
The training that fighters undergo at the academy in the Republic of Dagestan is known for its high level of rigor, which was passed down to them by Khabib's late father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Amidst the mountains, the athletes must remain focused and avoid distractions.
Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from the octagon to become a coach in 2020. But not before achieving remarkable victories against big names in the organization, such as Conor McGregor , Dustin Poirier , and Justin Gaethje . Islam Makhachev, on the other hand, won the lightweight title against Brazilian Charles Oliveira and defended it twice against the current featherweight champion (up to 65,7kg) Alexander Volkanovski , Dustin Poirier , and Renato Moicano.
Makhachev is already in a new training camp, with fans expecting him to be preparing to defend his title against former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria at UFC 317. The Russian athlete has been training with a forgotten Ultimate star who left the octagon to pursue a career as a doctor.
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