Khabib Nurmagomedov on Fighting, Faith and Legacy
Dagestan, training and the making of champions
Gyms, coaches and local traditions
Khabib Nurmagomedov describes training first in his father’s home gym in a village, then in a basic school gym in Makhachkala. He says that for wrestling and combat sports, a coach, committed training partners and mats mattered more than comfortable facilities. He contrasts Dagestan’s organized pathway through combat-sports gyms and competitions with the lack of a comparable football system there.
He credits the region’s high level of competition, generations of wrestlers who became coaches, and a culture in which wrestling and fighting are widely practiced. He also discusses Dagestan’s history, geography, languages and traditions, and how harsh mountain conditions and past invasions shaped life there.
A mountain training base
Khabib explains that the sports complex in his home village of Sildi was his father’s project. After his father died, Khabib continued the work; the base now hosts training camps. He describes its altitude, the demanding journey there, its benefits for training, and the jobs and personal meaning it brings.
Becoming and remaining a champion
Khabib says fame, money, travel and business can distract athletes from training, and that reaching the top and staying there are different challenges. He describes the importance of accepting a coach’s guidance and criticism, and says success can reveal how a person handles power and attention.
He reflects on humility and ambition: his original goal was to prove himself to his father and become a champion, not to think of himself as a king. In competition, however, he says a fighter must pursue the goal and press an opponent, while staying within a personal code of honor. He identifies a fear of losing as a major driver and describes fitting demanding training around travel and other commitments.
Training, resilience and his father’s influence
Khabib recounts his father’s demanding routine, including morning conditioning, evening gym sessions and occasional extra training. He argues that reaching the top requires an exceptionally committed approach and describes how demanding training systems can test people over many years.
He recalls joining adult training camps as a teenager, where being the youngest meant enduring difficult sessions and a strict environment. He also describes his father’s broader approach to raising him: requiring work in exchange for money, encouraging reading and writing, and keeping him occupied with learning and challenging tasks. Khabib recommends motivating children with useful challenges and rewards.
From street fights to MMA
Khabib says he did not usually initiate street fights, though he sometimes got involved when his brother did. He distinguishes street fights from sport, which has rules and referees, and recounts seeing his cousin win a fight with a triangle choke. That experience helped prompt his interest in combat sambo and mixed martial arts, despite his father’s preference for wrestling.
He describes competing in several wrestling and combat sports as a young athlete. His father sent him to competitions to build experience and confidence, including events in sports Khabib did not consider his own. Khabib says that preparation for a major fight begins long before a specific camp, and recalls gaining confidence through professional experience before joining the UFC.
Fight strategy and the Conor McGregor rivalry
Khabib explains how he uses pressure to make opponents spend energy escaping and tries to identify and repeatedly attack their weaknesses. He and Lex discuss major rivalries in boxing and MMA, including why Khabib’s fight with Conor McGregor reached beyond sport: the rivalry, public attention and personal, religious and political themes all contributed.
Khabib says he kept his emotions under control during the build-up and fight, then released them afterward. He describes relying on his father’s advice and approval more than public opinion, and says he did not doubt that he was stronger than McGregor. He calls the fight his toughest up to that point psychologically.
Retirement, emotions and fighters’ mindsets
Khabib says his later fight with Justin Gaethje was harder because his father had died, he was dealing with injuries and he had decided it would be his last fight. He describes feeling the significance of every moment in the cage because he knew he would not compete again. He and Lex reflect on the fleeting feeling of victory, how recognition can give success meaning, and whether champions inspire others.
The conversation turns to fighters Khabib admires, including Shogun Rua, Georges St-Pierre and Fedor Emelianenko. Khabib recalls watching fights with his father and seeing Fedor compete at a Dagestan combat-sambo championship. They discuss composure, fear and pressure: Khabib says athletes must face fear and learn to channel nerves through repeated competition and experience.
Coaching and the next generation
Khabib describes adapting his approach to each athlete and working alongside Javier Mendez. He praises Mendez’s attention to sparring and preparation, and explains why he prefers not to corner fighters whose training camp he has not observed. He also discusses Daniel Cormier’s wrestling and MMA achievements, and the rivalry with Jon Jones.
He describes Islam Makhachev’s discipline, talent and long training history, and the gym’s succession of athletes supporting those who come after them. Khabib says he still loves wrestling and grappling after retirement and discusses whether Islam could join the greatest-fighter conversation, noting the challenge of age in lighter weight classes.
The UFC, its figures and football
Khabib discusses Dana White’s separation of business and personal relationships, his promotion of the UFC, and the contributions of people such as Bruce Buffer and Joe Rogan. He says he would like to speak with Rogan. He also talks about Ali Abdelaziz, whom he says he has known and worked with for years, and describes their close relationship.
Football fandom and great players
Khabib recalls watching football with his father, his early memories of major matches, and how he became a Real Madrid supporter after the 1998 Champions League final. He discusses the teams he followed, the Premier League, and the rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He praises Ronaldo’s athleticism, work and achievements, while recognizing Messi’s accomplishments, and says their competition drove both players and drew more people to football.
They compare great club and national teams and discuss Zinedine Zidane’s playing style, stamina and charisma. Khabib says he admires players who take responsibility and initiative, even at the risk of making mistakes; they discuss Maradona’s leadership and Messi’s achievement in emerging from Maradona’s shadow. Khabib also praises Zlatan Ibrahimović’s confidence, leadership and scoring.
Dubai, faith and life beyond sport
Khabib describes Dubai and Abu Dhabi as a second home for his team, thanking Sheikh Hamdan and other named officials for their support. He discusses the facilities where the team trains and the role of the region as a destination for sporting events and people from around the world.
Worship, gratitude and accountability
Khabib says Islam and daily prayer have shaped his routine and that his purpose is to worship God. He explains that faith helped him cope with his father’s death and keep success from making him proud. He says gratitude means giving credit for what he has received to God, and describes belief in judgment and accountability as central to how he understands life.
Asked for advice, he urges people to read, learn and seek truth. He speaks about life in relation to death and eternity, and says belief in accountability can restrain harmful behavior. He also discusses keeping money in one’s hands rather than in one’s heart, using wealth to help others, and trying to remain honest about one’s flaws and public image.
The conversation closes with a brief exchange about the Real Madrid–Barcelona rivalry and thanks between Lex and Khabib.