Home

UFC

“I Used to Draw This Motivation This Energy From Him” – Khabib Nurmagomedov on How His Father Was an Inspiration for Him

Published 12/23/2021, 9:00 AM EST

Follow Us

via Getty

Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of the most decorated fighters in MMA history. He is a former UFC lightweight champion and retired from the sport undefeated, with a 29-0 record.

According to ‘The Eagle,’ his father was one of his biggest inspirations in life. Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, started training him at the age of eight. He was a decorated athlete and had wrestled from an early age. His father also underwent training in judo and sambo in the military. While talking about his father and how he helped him become the fighter, we now know, he said, “Father has to be an example, a father has to be a hero. Father has always to be near the son and to show by his own example.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

“In this regard, my father was the best, because he always showed everything by his own example, whatever he did. He always said, ‘I just always wanted to be the best. If a man has an aspiration, he will succeed.’ And I used to draw this motivation, this energy from him.”

Veteran Referee Says Derrick Lewis Will Never Become the UFC Champion

According to Khabib, his father made him follow certain rules, but it was all for his good. He said, “My childhood memories about my father were like, there was a regime. There were always certain rules. Studies and training were always combining. That was always. You had to train and study every day. When I was 4, I started to walk on mats. As I remember, I was doing jumping over, push-ups, running, pull-ups, and some moves. I was always feeling he was extra loading me… I didn’t realize that is better for me, I had and I want to become a world champion.”

Khabib Nurmagomedov retired after his father passed away

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Khabib Nurmagomedov and his father shared a very strong bond. His father was always there in his corner for his fights, trying to keep him motivated and inspired. Having trained with him from his childhood, Abdulmanap helped ‘The Eagle’ become the fighter he was.

Sadly, his father passed away after suffering from COVID complications in July 2020. Nurmagomedov was the UFC lightweight champion then and had to defend his title. He took on Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in what was his last fight. After dominating and submitting Gaethje, he announced his retirement from the sport.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest UFC stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

In the post-fight interview, he talked about how he had a talk with his mother, and that she didn’t want him to fight without his father. Which led to him announcing his retirement.

WATCH THIS STORY – Amanda Nunes vs Julianna Pena, Charles Oliveira vs Dustin Poirier, And Other Best UFC Finishes Of December 2021

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Arunaditya Aima

600Articles

One take at a time

Arunaditya is a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. Having completed his Post Graduate Diploma in Multimedia Journalism from IIJNM, Arunaditya aspires to be an important voice in the world of MMA and interview the likes of Jon Jones, Conor McGregor, Amanda Nunes, and other such superstars of the sport. He has followed the sport for over a decade and is an ardent fan of Georges St-Pierre, who he believes is the greatest of all time.
Show More>