UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov has lost a father, a trainer and a friend following his dad’s tragic death aged 57 on Friday.
Abdulmanap, who coached his son to UFC lightweight championship glory, is believed to have passed away following a series of COVID-19 complications.
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The army verteran, also a former judo and sambo champion, is arguably the biggest reason why Khabib became one of the most feared men in UFC history.
The sheer discipline Khabib’s father installed into his son from an early age and the tough training he put him through – lest we forget he allowed him to wrestle bears – helped shape a lightweight champion of the world.
“First, a father always wants to check on what his son his capable of,” Abdulmanap said in 2019.
9-year-old Khabib Nurmagomedov wrestles a bear as a child in Dagestan
“It is a pity that there were no fights more interesting when he was younger. In the end, this was a test of character more than exercise.”
Abdulmanap was forced to watch many of his son’s triumphs from his home in Russia having been unable to get a VISA to America.
As a devout Muslim, Khabib’s father held him to high moral expectations as well as physical standards.
That’s why Abdulmanap was so upset following the ugly scenes that followed his son’s victory over Conor McGregor at UFC 229 in November 2018.
Khabib scaled the fence to attack some of McGregor’s team as soon as he tapped the Irishman out.
Furthermore, some of Khabib’s team took that as an opportunity to enter the cage and attack McGregor.
Getty Images – Getty
Getty Images – Getty
Both fighters were hit with suspensions by Nevada State Athletic Commission for their part in the brawls.
Nurmagomedov received nine months and ordered to pay $500,000, while McGregor was told to hand over $50,000 on top of his six-month ban.
Abdulmanap said: “I will impose a punishment tougher than the UFC’s. I warned him. For me, discipline comes first.
“You do whatever you want in the Octagon, [but] outside — this is the border of civilians, where there are children, women, strangers.”
He also later said he forgave McGregor for all the trash talk prior to his fight with Khabib and invited him to come train with them in Dagestan.
When asked on Russian TV if he really forgave Notorious, he said: “Absolutely. It’s in the past. We can’t stop, life goes on.
“Our religion says to show mercy in actions, not in words. If he comes, you’ll see the same thing. A welcome of a dear guest.”
A true gentleman. RIP.
