Khabib's father and mentor, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov dies aged 57, victim of complications from Covid-19

Abdulmanap and Khabib Nurmagomedov in victory for the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @ufc

MMA is in mourning. Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, father, coach and mentor of Khabib, UFC lightweight champion (up to 70,3 kg), has died. The coach did not survive the complications caused by Covid-19 and passed away, in Russia, at the age of 57. He had been hospitalized in the country since the end of April. The information was released by 'RT.com'.

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Abdulmanap was hospitalized after feeling unwell while spending time in the mountains of Dagestan (RUS). The coach was taken to the hospital with suspected pneumonia and Covid-19. After undergoing tests, it was found that Nurmagomedov had contracted the coronavirus. The information was released by the UFC champion himself at the time.

After his condition worsened, Khabib's father ended up transferred to a military care center in Moscow (RUS), and, since then, he has been under the care of doctors there. Last month, the number one lightweight reported that his mentor had recovered from the illness, but was still in an induced coma and that there were after-effects, leaving his health condition still delicate.

After more than two months in hospital, Abdulmanap could not resist and ended up succumbing to complications from the disease.

This Friday morning (3), Khabib's manager, Ali Abdelaziz, published a black and white image of the champion with his father, paying tribute to the Nurmagomedov family.

Khabib's father and coach

K. Nurmagomedov (left) and his father, A. Nurmagomedov (right). Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @khabib_nurmagomedov

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An ever-present figure in the training of one of the biggest names in MMA today, Abdulmanap accompanied his son from an early age. Rigid and demanding, Nurmagomedov was criticized after a video was released showing Khabib training with a bear in Russia.

Trained by his father, over the years, Khabib continued to stand out as a great sambo athlete (traditional martial art in Russia), a sport that would be the Russian's flagship in his transition to MMA.

The UFC athlete's father had never been able to witness his son's fight in the United States, due to problems with his North American visa. However, he was able to be in the octagon during Khabib's last victory, in September last year, when the Russian defeated Dustin poirier in a valid fight for the unification of the lightweight belt.