Islam Makhachev says Khabib Nurmagomedov continues to be very entrenched within the struggle recreation.
Nurmagomedov retired as an undefeated UFC light-weight champion and has since handed the torch onto Makhachev, who has lived as much as the potential by turning into 155-pound champ himself.
Nurmagomedov insists he won’t ever struggle once more, however Makhachev admits that Nurmagomedov nonetheless loves the sport.
“I believe he’s blissful, however this man misses preventing, struggle camp,” Makhachev mentioned on Shadow Lion’s “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo. “That’s why he joins us in every single place. He loves to coach – daily, he trains.
“Not simply when he’s with us, on a regular basis this man’s coaching. He has a home within the village, a home within the metropolis. Each homes have a sauna, excellent gymnasium, swimming pool. This man is coaching on a regular basis.”
Makhachev says Nurmagomedov at present weighs over 200 kilos, making him even tougher to cope with as a coaching accomplice.
“It’s not a secret, Khabib has just like the worst model for everyone,” Makhachev mentioned. “If he takes you down, he takes all of your vitality, all of your energy as a result of he’s very heavy on high.
“I don’t have the identical abilities as a result of at all times once I’m on high, I’m in search of choke, to do one thing, however this man has loopy management, he holds you. Now, he has loopy energy as a result of he’s large and he holds you and also you say, ‘Hey, get out.’”
Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) defends his light-weight title in opposition to Dustin Poirier within the UFC 302 predominant occasion June 1. Makhachev’s mentor Nurmagomedov submitted Poirier in Spherical 3 of their title struggle at UFC 242.
For extra on the playing cards, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 302.
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