Brotherhood! Makhachev praises Khabib and reinforces their bond of friendship: 'If he asks me to retire, I'll stop'

Makhachev and Khabib during training. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/khabib_nurmagomedov

It's no secret that one of the strongest bonds of friendship in MMA is that between Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov . This Saturday (15), in New York (USA), the Russian, former lightweight champion (up to 70,3 kg), will challenge Jack Della Maddalena , holder of the welterweight title (up to 77,1 kg), in the main fight of UFC 322 and, despite the focus on the commitment, he does not forget his former training partner and now coach.

Makhachev made a point of praising the UFC Hall of Famer, reinforcing the partnership that has existed between them since their youth. It is worth highlighting that if the athlete is now seen as a legend of MMA, much of it is due to Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, Khabib's father, who believed in his talent when he was still unknown in combat sports.

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Over time, Makhachev and Khabib grew closer, and their partnership marked an era in MMA. After Abdulmanap's death in 2020, 'The Eagle' retired as a fighter and took control of the 'clan,' acting as a mentor and coach to the other athletes. Soon after receiving help from his friend both personally and professionally, Islam expressed his deep gratitude and loyally vowed to follow him to the end.

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“Khabib helps us a lot. Khabib is like an older brother to me. If he told me, for example, 'You have to stop tomorrow, enough fighting,' I would obey. He's the guy in our gym who takes care of us, who controls us, who always wants the best for us. He knows how to do that, how to create champions. Not just in the gym, but also in life. In my life, he's done everything for me. Sometimes I don't even need to ask him,” said the MMA legend in an interview with the YouTube channel 'WEIGHING IN'.

Dominance in the lightweights

Islam Makhachev , 34, made his mark in the UFC lightweight division. The Russian became champion in 2022 when he submitted Charles Oliveira in a fight for the vacant title. From then on, he defended the belt by defeating Alexander Volkanovski twice, by unanimous decision and knockout, and by submitting Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano . Currently, the professional has 15 consecutive wins and is seeking his second title in a different division within the company.

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