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‘He Can Be an Amazing Coach’- Dan Ige Gets Candid About Khabib Nurmagomedov and His Friendship

Published 03/22/2021, 1:25 AM EDT

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UFC featherweight Dan Ige sat down with Marc Raimondi from ESPN and went in on Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement from MMA. Although ‘The Eagle’ walked away back in October 2020, his retirement was recently reinforced via social media. Nurmagomedov walked away with a 29-0 record and is looked at as arguably the greatest athlete across the sport.

Khabib Nurmagomedov defended his lightweight belt thrice and racked up wins over some massive names. The lightweight division arguably reached its competitive peak under Nurmagomedov’s reign, and it’s expected to carry forward.

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Dan Ige provides immediate reaction in wake of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement

Ige who came on to talk about his recent KO win over Gavin Tucker was also asked to share his immediate view on Nurmagomedov’s retirement. Chiefly, Dan Ige commented on Nurmagomedov’s humility, a trait that he believes stayed constant. It’s clear that Ige was impacted positively by Khabib Nurmagomedov, much like a majority of the fan base.

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“From the very first day I met him till today, no matter the money, the fame, the fortune, he’s always remained the same. He’s the same humble kid from Dagestan and I’m so happy for him, I would have supported him either way, fighting or not fighting…it was nice seeing him today. He was still in there training, still in there running… He’s going to train his whole entire life.”

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‘The Eagle’: Exploring new avenues

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‘50K’ Ige also predicted that Khabib Nurmagomedov would have a successful stint coaching young Dagestani fighters. ‘The Eagle’ has seemingly absorbed the role his father had, that of a coach, and he’s thriving. The fighters under his wing have flourished and produced some emphatic results.

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“I think there’s big things ahead for him in the future and he can be an amazing coach if he decided to do that. He has so many ventures and outlets. He loves and cares for his brothers and wants to see them succeed. I think his future is still bright in whatever venture he chooses, and I couldn’t be happier for the man.”

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With the door firmly shut and bolted on competing, the UFC’s lightweight division will move forward with Nurmagomedov. Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira have already been booked as the pair to fight for the vacant title. MMA fans are excited to witness the dawn of a new era as Khabib Nurmagomedov rides off into the sunset.

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Written by:

Darryl Pinto

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Darryl Pinto is a senior MMA writer at EssentiallySports. He is currently pursuing his graduate degree in Mass Media (with a specialization in Journalism) out of Xavier’s College and has a year's experience in his current role. Darryl specializes in predictions, reporting, and covering UFC events live.
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