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Sep 21, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Khabib Nurmagomedov celebrates his victory over Pat Healy (not pictured) during their Lightweight bout at UFC 165 at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Khabib Nurmagomedov retirement and return to coaching after his father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov’s passing
Sep 21, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Khabib Nurmagomedov celebrates his victory over Pat Healy (not pictured) during their Lightweight bout at UFC 165 at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
In the remote mountains of Dagestan, a father had a vision for his son. Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov wasn’t just training a fighter, he was crafting a legacy. From wrestling bears as a child to dominating the world’s best fighters, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s journey started in his father’s makeshift gym.
Abdulmanap wasn’t the typical coach who showed up for training sessions and called it a day. He lived and breathed martial arts, turning their family home into a training facility where young fighters could eat, sleep, and train. The bond between father and son grew stronger through years of rigorous training sessions, life lessons, and shared dreams of UFC gold.
And in April 2018, Khabib realized his and his father’s dream. He fought for the vacant lightweight belt against Al Iaquinta (replacement for Tony Ferguson) and won via unanimous decision. Becoming the champion had it’s own challenges, but him as well as the late Abdulamanap (who unfortunately wasn’t present there) were proud!
The MMA world saw arguably the biggest rivalry there ever was or will be in the coming generations at UFC 229. The lead up to this fight was intense, with Conor McGregor using everything at his disposal to get into the stoic Dagestani’s head. He called him names, went after his father, wife and even nationality and religion. But, ‘The Eagle’ stayed calm, that is till he choked him out in the 4th round, after which all hell broke loose.
“My Khabib, whenever I make a statement, he would never stand against it.”
Here is where Abdulamanap’s character shines through. Despite so much animosity McGregor showered upon him and his family, he forgave him. In an interview, Abdulmanap even invited McGregor to his home as a guest. And when asked if Khabib Nurmagomedov would be okay with it, his answer was simple yet elegant!
A Legacy Cut Short: The Loss That Changed Everything
COVID-19 pandemic took a lot from every single person. And for Khabib Nurmagomedov, it was his father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, who passed away from the complications of this virus in 2020. It wasn’t just Khabib who lost a father, the entire MMA community lost a visionary and a champion creating coach.
And as Islam Makhachev said, “Khabib didn’t just lose a father. He lost someone who sacrificed his whole life for his son.“
After defending his title against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, Khabib made a promise to his mother and hung up his gloves with a perfect 29-0 record. The moment was raw and real. This was a son honoring his parents above fame and fortune. Some fighters retire because their bodies give up, others because they’ve lost their spark. But Khabib Nurmagomedov stepped away at his peak because fighting without his father in his corner left a void nothing else could fill.
The Coach’s Son Becomes The Coach
These days, fans will find Khabib Nurmagomedov doing exactly what his father did – molding champions. He has taken over his father’s role, coaching Islam Makhachev to the UFC lightweight title and guiding his cousin Umar Nurmagomedov toward bantamweight glory. The way he pushes his fighters during training is pure Abdulmanap style. Sometimes, during corner advice between rounds, you can almost hear echoes of his father’s wisdom in Khabib’s words.
Even Javier Mendez believed that the passing of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov left a void that no one could fill. Only Abdulmanap’s own son, Khabib could take up that role. And ‘The Eagle’ himself feels that it is his duty to transfer his knowledge and experience onto the newer generations. This is evident from his coaching of Islam Makhachev, Usman Numagomedov and others. He has said countless times that he dislikes coaching, but feels the moral obligation to do it regardless.
Carrying Forward The Father’s Plan
They call it “Father’s Plan” in their camp – a blueprint Abdulmanap Numagomedov laid out years ago. First, Khabib would become champion. Then Islam Makhachev. Then the next generation would follow. It’s almost spooky how accurately things are playing out. While Khabib admits coaching isn’t his passion like it was for his father, his sense of duty keeps him in the gym. He remembers how these same fighters helped him prepare for his battles, and now it’s his turn to return the favor.
With Islam Makhachev breaking records in the lightweight division and Usman Nurmagomedov defending his belt in PFL, ‘Team Khabib’ has been consistent on Father’s plan. Despite some setbacks ( Umar Nurmagomedov’s loss to Merab Dvalishvili), Khabib Nurmagomedov is making sure that they don’t stray them far from what has already been planned.
Looking To The Future
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s students are breaking records he set, and that is exactly how he wants it. Just like Abdulmanap taught him wrestling moves in their backyard, Khabib is now passing down those same techniques to the next generation. The most beautiful part is when his fighters win, ‘The Eagle’ celebrates their victories with the same pride his father once showed for him. Sometimes the greatest way to honor a legacy is to help it grow into something even bigger!
I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!
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