UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov is set to significantly expand his gym network, aiming to propagate his unique and demanding training methods and further cement his father’s enduring legacy.
His late father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, was a highly respected coach in Dagestan, instrumental in shaping the early careers of numerous world champions, including Islam Makhachev and Usman Nurmagomedov. Now, according to a teammate, Khabib intends to replicate this successful training and lifestyle philosophy in more locations.
Assisting him in this venture is Movlid Khaybulaev, an undefeated featherweight contender in this year`s PFL World Tournament. Khaybulaev was scheduled to face Taekyun Kim in the main card opener on ESPN.
Khabib Nurmagomedov Plans Gym Expansion to Preserve Father’s Legacy
Since retiring from competition in 2020 following the passing of his father, Khabib Nurmagomedov has transitioned into a prominent coaching role. He has cornered fighters in numerous world title bouts across various promotions including UFC, PFL, and Bellator, achieving remarkable success.
He now plans to build upon his father`s foundation by expanding the gym and making its distinctive training approach available in additional areas.
“It’s all about expansion and preserving our legacy and we’re all about branching out right now,” Khaybulaev told Bloody Elbow ahead of his PFL semi-final bout. “We have a bunch of new guys coming out.
“I’ll work with somebody then of course Khabib is working with a lot of guys. He oversees everybody and if we keep going with the same energy and the same dedication then it’s just going to keep spreading out even further.
“Khabib is making sure we get new talent and we’re going to be opening up new gym branches. So the idea is to leave an even bigger legacy and keep the chain going.”
Movlid Khaybulaev Recalls Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov’s Greatest Trait
The coaching prowess of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov is frequently highlighted by the many elite MMA fighters who hail from Dagestan. Khaybulaev emphasizes that Abdulmanap`s greatness stemmed less from tactical knowledge and more from his influence on their personal lives.
“The best thing about Abdulmanap was that he wasn’t just an MMA coach to us, he was a mentor,” Khaybulaev continued. “He was trying to raise us as proper men and proper human beings who are passionate.
“We always treated everybody nicely, he didn’t favor anybody specifically he treated us all as his students and that was the best thing that he was trying to put moral qualities on us and that was the best thing I can remember about him.”
