“It's not just about studying a language. When our coach was still alive, we used to have an english teacher who came 3—4 times a week. Our coach knew that in order to achieve something nowadays, you have to be good at promoting yourself. That's why everybody was learning english. But now the guys are too lazy”

– via Red Corner MMA, reflecting on the importance of learning English, stating that his late coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, pushed the team to learn it because he understood that modern fighters need strong self promotion skills to succeed.