The combined martial arts (MMA) world misses all-time nice Light-weight legend, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Thankfully for us, we bought to see him struggle six extra years than we may have.
2014 was a giant yr for Nurmagomedov till the damage bug bit and left him sidelined for 2 years. It was a stretch the place followers all through the neighborhood questioned whether or not or not “The Eagle” was injury-prone and ever going to succeed in the inevitable potential he possessed.
In the end, Nurmagomedov did precisely that by changing into the Light-weight champion when he defeated Al Iaquinta through a unanimous choice at UFC 223 in April 2018. Two years later, he tied the divisional title protection document at three and known as it a profession with a pristine 29-0 document at age 31. Nevertheless, it may have all ended six years earlier.
“It was hardest time in my profession, like skilled profession, as a result of I bear in mind after I dominated Rafael dos Anjos [and] after that I broke my leg. I had ACL surgical procedure,” Nurmagomedov mentioned on the Encourage Me Podcast (h/t MMA Junkie). “After that, dos Anjos turned champion, and I attempted to return again. I tore yet one more time ACL and yet one more surgical procedure. I attempted to return again. I broke my ribs.
“After that, I attempted to return again,” he continued. “I had surgical procedure on my again. It was a really arduous time, and I bear in mind I used to be speaking with my father, ‘Possibly it is a sign from God you must cease.’ He informed me, ‘You can not hand over. When you might have some check you must present your toughness in the event you’re robust. Should you’re not robust you simply can provide up, and that’s it.’”
Nurmagomedov, 35, nonetheless hung up the gloves sooner than many anticipated regardless of going past his authentic questioning. After the legend’s father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, handed away in 2020, Nurmagomedov’s mom implored him to cease combating, and he adopted the request. Now, Nurmagomedov stays across the scene by teaching a number of the greatest on the planet, like new Light-weight champion, Islam Makhachev.
“I bear in mind he informed me, ‘If you wish to go, you must go,’” Nurmagomedov mentioned. “‘If not, anyhow, I’m going to have a UFC champion. With you or with out you, I’m going to make somebody a UFC champion.’ This gave me like loopy power. Like if my father desires, who has to do that if I’m not? And this gave me loopy power. I simply hold going, hold going. I simply come again and after that, what occurred? That is all historical past.”
