UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev recently opened up about his training dynamics with childhood friend and former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Speaking on the Weighing In podcast, Makhachev revealed that training alongside Nurmagomedov can be challenging, as other fighters in the gym often try to impress ‘The Eagle.’
According to Makhachev, when Nurmagomedov is present, fighters in the gym aim to showcase their skills in front of him. As a result, Makhachev finds himself facing tougher opposition during training sessions.
He expressed, “When Khabib is here, it’s more hard because you know, when I go to the cage with opponents, some of the guys… they want to look good in front of Khabib and they give me more hard time.”
Makhachev is currently gearing up to defend his lightweight title against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302, headlining the event scheduled for June 1 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
In another interview on the Pound 4 Pound podcast with Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, Makhachev shed light on Nurmagomedov’s life after retiring from MMA. He revealed that despite stepping away from professional competition, Nurmagomedov still maintains a rigorous training regimen, expressing a longing for the fighting and fight camps. Makhachev shared,
“I think he is happy, but this guy misses the fighting, fight camps. That’s why he joins with us everywhere.”
He emphasized Nurmagomedov’s dedication to training, noting that he trains daily, even outside of gym sessions with other fighters. Nurmagomedov’s commitment to training reflects his passion for the sport, despite officially retiring after his victory over Justin Gaethje in October 2020.
