Islam Makhachev vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov
Conversation between Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov
“So, our whole lives went side by side in the hall, helping each other to become better and stronger. Soon we will follow the historic second belt, and in the meantime, the work continues. 33 days before the historical fight in Madison Square Garden. See you guys in New York. @islam_makhachev ready to go”
“This is a stupid question. He’s my brother...If he didn’t want me to beat his record, he would never help me. He’s been away from his family for two months. It’s his dream to make new champions in our gym. One day, he told me he does all this because if one guy becomes a champion, it changes the lives of many people around him. He told me, ‘It’s my dream to help people, and when I help someone, I can help his family, friends, and everyone around him.’ That’s why I don’t like to answer questions about beating Khabib’s record and all that.- dismissing comparison to Khabib via ESPN MMA”
“It’s not a question I want to answer, like I beat Khabib’s record or something like this. It’s all about Abdulmanap’s legacy, our coach who is not with us right now. After ten or fifteen years, people will understand what he did for our country, for MMA, for sports. Even now, new champions in other organizations are training under his students. It has become a very big school. The only thing I miss is that he’s not in the cage with us when we win the belt. I think he’s proud of us- dismissing comparison to Khabib via ESPN MMA”
“My priorities are Usman, Umar, and Islam. These guys are my main priority. And when they're finished, I'm going to finish too - speaking about his coaching focus and when he plans to step away from the sport via S Khalil”
“I want Islam to stay at welterweight because he just turned 34. It's not easy to be in one weight class all your life - shares about Islam future weight class via S Khalil”
“Khabib is like my older brother. If he told me, for example, ‘Hey, you have to stop tomorrow, no more fighting’, I would listen to him... He’s the guy in our gym who takes care of us, who controls us and always wishes us the best, he knows how to make the champions, not just in the gym, in my life, he did everything for me - via WEIGHING IN podcast, revealing he would retire instantly if advised to do so by his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov”
“I think Topuria vs. Islam can be the biggest fight, not Jon Jones and Pereira. It's still a big fight, but not on that level - via the WEIGHING IN podcast, comparing the potential magnitude of a Topuria vs. Makhachev bout to Jones vs. Pereira.”
“Our relationship is different. We have a brotherhood. We've known each other for 25 years, went to school together, and have the same coach. I'm happier for my brothers when they win than for myself. I want them to have all the world titles, not just one - via WEIGHING IN, sharing about his relationship with Islam Makhachev and their team.”
“One and only @islam_makhachev It was amazing performance Brother, today you proved that you are the one of the best who ever compete in this game. You make proud millions people around the World. Alhamdulillah for everything. - via instagram after Islam Makhachev's dominant win at UFC 322”
“If you ask me personally, I wouldn't want him to fight (at the White House). Why? I just don't -expressing his personal reservation about Islam Makhachev taking part in a potential UFC White House card”