Saturday marks a year since Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, the father of
former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomeodv, died
due to COVID-19 related complications.
Abdulmanap was an integral figure in the MMA career of his son,
serving as Khabib’s main coach during his rise to prominence. His
death hastened Khabib’s departure from the sport, as the Dagestani
grappler retired following a victory over Justin
Gaethje at UFC 254 this past October, citing a promise he made
to his mother to no longer compete without his father by his
side.
Today is already a year since the Father is not with us,”
Nurmagomedov wrote on Instagram. “This event increased my
conviction that nothing in this world belongs to us, neither our
children, nor our parents, nor our property. All we have is all
temporary.”
“Everything belongs to Allah alone and to Him will be our return,
tie your hearts to Allah, stay more alone with Him, because the
time will come and we will all be put in a grave, where we will be
alone, where our friends, relatives, property and our connections
will not be, only our deeds and report.”
Others in the MMA world who were connected to Abdulmanap offered
tributes on Saturday as well, including Javier Mendez, Islam
Makhachev, Rustam
Khabilov and Ali Abdelaziz. Khabib’s victory over Gaethje left
him with a 29-0 career mark, but despite the UFC’s best efforts,
“The Eagle” has remained resolute in his decision to walk away from
MMA since his last Octagon appearance.