UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov says his father was paramount in defeating Conor McGregor at UFC 229.
Despite being years removed from his final UFC fight, UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov remains one of the biggest stars in Mixed Martial Arts. His legendary win over former two-division champion Conor McGregor remains one of the biggest victories in MMA history.
Before, during, and after their fight, tensions between Nurmagomedov and McGregor remained high. Nurmagomedov opted to retire at UFC 254 following the tragic death of his father, Abdulmanap, just months before the event.
As Nurmagomedov’s English continues to improve, he’s appeared at many public speaking forums in recent months. In a rare podcast appearance, Nurmagomedov explained how instrumental his father was in preparing to defeat McGregor at UFC 229.
Khabib Nurmagomedov details father’s role in beating Conor McGregor
In a recent interview on The Lex Fridman Podcast, Nurmagomedov revealed how his late father, Abdulmanap, kept him calm ahead of the biggest fight of his career.
“For me, since he didn’t have a Visa, I just had to know exactly what he thought. I didn’t care what anyone else thought or the opinions of the hundreds of millions watching this fight,” Nurmagomedov said.
“I only cared about what he thought and what he said to me. But I couldn’t call him and say, ‘Father, what do you think about this?’ We never had that. My father knew exactly where to draw the line because he was in that same exact position with his own father, since he was still around… My father really kept me grounded, mentally.
“He told me, ‘You have a choice. You can either break down and give up, or you can get through it all with dignity. Go in, win, and settle it once and for all.”
Nurmagomedov will be in Islam Makhachev’s corner for his UFC welterweight title fight this Saturday at UFC 330.
Where would you rank Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor among the greatest UFC rivalries? Let us know in the comments!
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
