Even Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov’s favorite student, Islam
Makhachev, wasn’t allowed concessions with his haircut.
Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Famer Khabib
Nurmagomedov’s father is credited with nurturing a team of
elite fighters in the mountains of Dagestan, who are now taking
over every major mixed martial arts promotion. He had a strict
policy where every athlete had to cut their hair short.
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Khabib Nurmagomedov claims his father once threw out 50 people
from the gym
Abdulmanap’s son, Khabib, has repeatedly said that Makhachev was
his father’s favorite student. The former lightweight champion
recently recalled an incident when Makhachev was thrown out of the
gym among 50 others because of their haircuts. However, some
returned a while later after getting their hair cropped and among
them was Makhachev. Khabib recalls his father allowing them in and
acknowledging their desire to learn.
“There was this moment when father threw about 50 people out of the
gym because of their hair, including Islam Makhachev,” Khabib told
UFC Eurasia. “Everyone left, and about 30-40 minutes later, three
of them returned. Islam was among them too. Father saw that they
had returned with haircuts and said, ‘Yes, you can come in.’ My
father even said, ‘See, they want to learn from me. So, they will
get results.’”
Makhachev also recalls an important grooming lesson from his late
coach. Abdulmanap believed that fancy hairstyles aren’t the right
way to impress someone. Rather, a man needs to have a muscular
neck, a nice belt, and clean shoes to make an impression.
“He used to always say, ‘If you want to impress someone with your
hairstyles, that’s not how it works,” Makhachev said. “You need to
have a muscular neck, a nice belt, and clean shoes.’”