In an exciting twist of fate, UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov has pledged his support and involvement in the intensive training camp of his dear longtime friend and teammate, Islam Makhachev. This exhilarating news arrives in anticipation of Makhachev’s much-anticipated title rematch against the reigning lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira, set to headline UFC 294. The Octagon action is slated to unfold in the vibrant city of Abu Dhabi on October 21.
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Islam Makhachev recently shared his enthusiasm in an exclusive interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, highlighting the joy of Khabib Nurmagomedov joining their camp. Makhachev revealed:
“He will come tomorrow. We’re waiting for him. Yeah, tomorrow he will come to Dubai. He’s gonna be here. He’s not gonna be my corner, of course, but he will be here to help. We have a couple more guys who are going to fight [in] other organizations here in Abu Dhabi. I don’t know the fight day where he’s gonna be, but next two weeks he’s gonna be here with us.”
Makhachev also fondly reminisced about their shared training sessions during Khabib’s active fighting days and emphasized the transformation in Khabib as a coach:
“I miss that time when we trained together. When he had a fight, when I had a fight. But when he became a coach like two years ago, one year ago, he pushed us very hard, you know? We did some drills, we did like almost 10 rounds of sparring, and after all this work, after like one and a half hour, he’d say, ‘Okay, now five rounds of grappling.’ But we never did this when he was training with us.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov, who took a step back from the MMA scene earlier this year, will be stepping into a coaching role to support his comrades, marking a significant shift in his involvement with his former teammates.
Check out what he says:
In a compelling show of camaraderie, UFC lightweight contender Renato Moicano has thrown his support behind fellow Brazilian Charles Oliveira, expressing his fervent desire for Oliveira to emerge victorious in the highly anticipated title rematch against champion Islam Makhachev. Moicano’s sentiments were made public during an insightful conversation on The MMA Hour, where he shared his perspective on the upcoming clash scheduled for UFC 294.
Moicano, known for his thoughtful analysis and candid opinions, articulated his hope for a triumphant Oliveira, citing the electrifying style that has endeared the Brazilian to fans worldwide. With enthusiasm in his voice, Moicano remarked:
“I hope Charles Oliveira beats Islam. I think that would be better for the division. Charles Oliveira is one of the most exciting fighters to watch. He always comes to brawl. That’s why sometimes he looks just brilliant because he takes chances. Maybe he can knock or even finish Islam. I hope he beats Islam, but I don’t see him beating Islam. It’s a very tough fight for Charles Oliveira, so I have Islam Makhachev winning.”
Moicano’s passionate plea for an Oliveira victory is driven by his belief in the dynamic fighting spirit displayed by the Brazilian fighter. However, the realism in his analysis shines through as he acknowledges the formidable challenge that Makhachev poses.
Check out what he says:
