UFC 294 is just around the corner. The much-anticipated event will feature Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski as the main event for the UFC lightweight championship. During the latest UFC 294 countdown episode, Islam Makhachev exposed the truth about his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“I was training with Khabib when I was young. He gave me a hard time, ” said Islam. He then went on to give credit to Khabib for those grueling training sessions. “The rounds helped me to be better because if you’re training hard, the fight is going to be easy,” said Islam Makhachev.
Islam Makhachev is the first fighter in UFC history to have a countdown only about him. Talk about star power pic.twitter.com/EmZYDsFcuO
— igor🇺🇦 (@ukraniandream) October 15, 2023
In the lead-up to his match against Alexander Volkanovski, the current lightweight champion posted a picture of himself and Khabib giving rise to speculation of Khabib returning as a full-time coach. Although Khabib has retired as a coach, he is helping Islam Makhachev in his training against Volkanovski.
Khabib Nurmagomedov claims that Islam Makhachev was his father’s favorite student
During the UFC 294 countdown episode the former lightweight legend, Khabib Nurmagomedov opened up about the relationship between his father and Islam Makhachev. “Islam was one of the favorite of my father’s students and he really loved him like his son,” said Khabib. “He really liked his disciple, focus, his championship mentality, everything,” explains Khabib.
Islam Makhachev dedicated his UFC lightweight championship win against Charles Oliviera to Khabib’s father and his former coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. During his post-fight interview speech, Islam expressed his gratitude towards his late coach by saying that many years ago he told Islam that if he just trained hard, he is going to be a champion.
Alex Volkanovski 🇦🇺 finally got the rematch he wanted with Islam Makhachev 🇷🇺
Can he avenge his loss and become a double champion? Find out at UFC 294 on October 21, 2023 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE. pic.twitter.com/sytTv0sMqq
— Soreichan Ningshen (@ningshensorei) October 11, 2023
“He and his father made me,” said an emotional Islam Makhachev while giving his title belt to Khabib. Before his death, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov predicted that once Khabib retires, Islam will come and take the belt. Khabib Nurmagomedov believes that his father’s dream came true when Islam won the lightweight title.
Islam Makhachev is now set to defend his championship in a rematch against the current featherweight champion, Alexander ‘The Great’ Volkanovski. According to the MMA community, the first match between them was very close and could have gone either way but Islam does not feel the same way.
Rewatching Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski
THREAD: pic.twitter.com/HqQwKMmiUW
— • 𝒮𝓀𝓎𝓁𝑜! (@YT_SKYLO1) October 8, 2023
“Some people say the fight was close because they just saw the last minute of the fight,” said Islam. Furthermore, he feels that people who understand MMA, know that he won via unanimous decision.
Do you think Islam Makhachev will once again defeat Alexander Volkanovski? Let us know in the comments below.