Former world champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was in his friend Islam Makhachev’s corner at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi.
Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira fought for the UFC Lightweight Title Championship in Abu Dhabi on 22 October.
In which Islam Makhachev had beaten Charles Oliveira in the first round.
And then beat Charles Oliveira in the second round to win the stage.
In this historic fight of the UFC, Islam Makhachev won the first lightweight title of his career.
After the fight Islam Makhachev was handed the belt with honor, accompanied by Khabib Nurmagomedov on stage.
Khabib Nurmagomedov trains fighters since retiring in 2020. He also trained Islam Makhachev.
UFC legend and former lightweight world champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has been undefeated in 29 mixed martial arts fights in his career.
Khabib Nurmagomedov announced his retirement from the UFC on the day of his father’s death in 2020.
At UFC 280, Islam Makhachev credited Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father Abdulmanap for winning the UFC lightweight title championship.
Islam Makhachev told Daniel Cormier during the interview after winning the championship that “I just want to say, this, my belt, is for my coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Many years ago he told me, just train hard and you’re going to be champion and I want to give this belt [to Khabib], because him and his father made me.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov politely declined the belt given to Islam Makhachev. Before returning the belt, Khabib held the belt to himself for a few moments and embraced Islam Makhachev.
During the interview about Khabib Nurmagomedov becoming the new world champion Islam Makhachev, Daniel told Courier that “All of our life was training together, 22 years we stayed together and the last couple of years I told you guys Islam Makhachev is the best fighter, not in lightweight, he is the pound-for-pound No.1 fighter right now – today.”
And now Islam Makhanchev is on his way to victory and will next take on former feather weight champion Alexander Volcano Saki next year.
If that happens, it will only be the seventh time in UFC history that two world champions will face each other inside the octagon.