The bond shared between Makhachev and Nurmagomedov clearly transcends the mat, considering the duo are close friends as well as training partners. At face value it’s easy to spot their similarities too, whether it’s their childhood upbringing in Dagestan or even martial expertise. Both men bring an attack-minded approach to the Octagon, although Makhachev has utilized a greater variety of striking attacks in his career thus far. If you look deeper though, there’s a little more nuance. For one, Makhachev grew up idolizing Fedor Emelianenko while Nurmagomedov was more influenced by Muhammad Ali’s style in the ring. As much as they have in common, these peculiar differences also distinguish them from one another and make them unique fighters in their own right despite being so closely linked together.
The UFC fanbase is used to seeing legendary fighters retire, sometimes even ahead of schedule. And when Khabib Nurmagomedov announced his retirement in October of 2020 after a 29-0 undefeated career, it sent shockwaves throughout the MMA world. His peer and friend Islam Makhachev recently revealed why such a formidable fighter would choose such an early exit — a promise to his now-deceased father and coach Abdulmanap, who had died earlier that year. But even more interesting is the fact that Islam’s own mother had given him due warning — with lessons learned from Nurmagomedov’s thoughtful action. During an interview with UFC Russia, Makhachev stated that his mother had asked him the same thing while he was celebrating the recent accomplishment of his championship title– “Khabib listened to his mother when will you listen to yours?” This cautionary story reflects on the strong family legacy held between both fighters, often inspiring fans worldwide with stories of loyalty and devotion even during times of immense distress.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has left a lasting impression in the realm of MMA due to his impressive lightweight title defenses in the UFC. His goal was to retire with an unblemished 30-0 record, and although he retired early for many viewers, he likely would have only had one more fight before reaching this milestone. The native of Dagestan managed to tie the record for title defenses in the UFC’s lightweight division with three, showcasing just how dominant his reign within this division has been and will likely continue to be. Although he’s retired now, Nurmagomedov and his legacy live on in mixed martial arts, as he is unquestionably one of the best lightweight competitors and champions of all time.
Recent UFC champion Makhachev proved his mettle when he successfully completed a defense at UFC 284 in Perth, Australia. In an impressive onslaught, he took on Alexander Volkanovski and won the match via a convincing unanimous decision. While nobody anticipated the magnificence of this fight, everyone can rest assured that more defences by Makhachev are sure to come. He made a commitment to his mother akin to what Nurmagomedov promised her during his own career; while it remains to be seen whether Makhachev will keep his word or not, we can expect more amazing performances from him in future. It helps that he has a supportive family, with him saying “My father’s the opposite [of mother]…he watches all the fights.” It’s safe to assume that is why Makhachev is so motivated and continues to succeed – with so many people watching and rooting for him, defeat isn’t an option.
