One of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time – some even say the greatest – Khabib Nurmagomedov is proving a dab hand at coaching, too.
Just consider the world’s two leading professional MMA organisations. In the foremost, the UFC, Islam Makhachev ranks as its pound-for-pound No 1, regarded by many to be the ultimate measure in combat sports.
In the other, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) that decamps to Dubai this week, Usman Nurmagomedov perches atop the overall standings, also. For his globally acclaimed cousin, himself once a pound-for-pound standout, it constitutes pretty concrete confirmation of Team Khabib’s credentials.
“You know, the PFL just announced their [first] pound-for-pound rankings: Usman is on top, he’s the best pound-for-pound fighter in PFL, and we have the best pound-for-pound fighter in UFC,” says Khabib Nurmagomedov, holding court at Buka Gym in Jumeirah Lakes Towers.
“From one team, two guys, and who grow up with me – Usman is my cousin and Islam is with me almost 25 years, we know each other all our life. And, honestly, it makes me proud.
“Because they’re coming up and, with them, other fighters are growing
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