Belal
Muhammad is grateful for the guidance of Khabib
Nurmagomedov heading into his first championship
opportunity.
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Muhammad will receivs his long-awaited welterweight title shot
against Leon
Edwards in the main event at UFC 304
in Manchester on Saturday. Muhammad recently visited Dagestan to
train with Nurmagomedov for his upcoming fight.
Muhammad claims a bit of advice from the former lightweight
champion has proven to be invaluable. Muhammad is glad to have the
mentorship of “The Eagle,” who he considers to be the MMA GOAT.
“It benefits me everywhere,” Muhammad told Shakiel Mahjouri. “Physically, mentally,
spiritually, it just puts me on another level. I said it before and
people were making fun of me like, ‘Oh, get off his jock blah blah
blah.’ Training with him and getting advice from him is worth
20-30-40-50 days with anybody else. Just being able to feel his
strength, feel his pressure, feel his knowledge too that he gives
you. And to have him give me advice and what he thinks I should be
doing for this fight and breaking down Leon. And telling me what he
thinks the game plan should be. The knowledge is endless. Because
to me I think he is the GOAT of the MMA world and the UFC. And just
like a brother that could message and ask. And anytime I send a
question he’ll respond. It’s just literally priceless to have that
guy in my life.”
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Nurmagomedov is reputed to be running a really tight ship in his
gym in Dagestan. Muhammad confirmed the reports, claiming the work
just doubles up whenever Nurmagomedov is in the gym. Muhammad
further revealed that whoever is unable to keep up with the grind
is asked to leave.
“There’s no hidden juice, no secret with them. Their team is just
all about hard work,” Muhammad said. “It’s just about overworking.
When Khabib gets there, it’s twice the overwork and twice the push.
It’s a different level. And I think that’s why you see a lot of
those guys mentally strong because they’ve been through the hardest
things in their camps, they’ve been through the hardest parts, the
hardest scenarios in all their practices. And then he continues to
push you on and if you don’t like it, he’ll just tell you to leave.
You’re not strong enough to be a part of it, then you can just
leave. There’s no sugarcoating. There’s no, ‘Let me give you a
couple of softballs,’ in their gym. They’re all killers, they’re
all beasts. And anytime I get a chance to work with them or train
with them, I level up.”