Like many Dagestani MMA stars, Usman
Nurmagomedov has the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov to credit for
his success.

Usman (21-0) recently defended the
Professional Fighters League lightweight title for the second
time against Alfie Davis
at
PFL Road to Dubai. Usman subsequently thanked his uncle for the
heights that he has scaled in his career. Usman revealed that while
their father pushed him and his brother, Umar, into sports, he
didn’t have championship aspirations for them. However, their uncle
Abdulmanap saw great potential in them and alerted their father
about the same. While Abdulmanap is no longer with them, Usman is
glad to have his son, Khabib
Nurmagomedov, fill in his shoes.

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Realizing His Potential

“This everything is from my uncle Abdulmanap,” Usman said on the
PFL Dubai broadcast. “My father pushed us into sports, but he
didn’t have any plans that we’d be champions. But my uncle
Abdulmanap, he believed in us. He always came to my father and told
him, ‘Hey, I see your boys have big potential. Be careful with
them.’ Today, uncle Abdulmanap is not with us, but his son keeps
doing his job with us.”

Abdulmanap is often considered the pioneer of MMA in Dagestan.
Abulmanap coached a group of elite fighters, including his son
Khabib, in the mountains of Dagestan before bringing them over to
the U.S. Khabib won the
UFC lightweight title, paving the way for fighters from the
Caucasus mountains to make their mark in the sport. After Khabib’s
retirement as the undefeated champion in 2020, his teammate,
Islam
Makhachev became the champion in 2022. Abdulmanap had predicted
all of it in what is now famously known as “Father’s
Plan.” 

IMAK ADMIN

By IMAK ADMIN

Internationaler Kampfkunst und Kampfsport Kleinanzeiger