Khabib Nurmagomedov opens up and admits going through the most difficult moment in his career after his father's death

K. Nurmagomedov talks about how his father is missed. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

The life of a professional fighter requires a lot of sacrifice on the part of athletes, whether physical or mental, and champions are not immune to this. Khabib Nurmagomedov, number one lightweight (70,3kg) in the UFC, is proof of this. The Russian, undefeated in MMA, suffered a heavy blow in his career, heavier even than a possible first defeat: the death of his father. The fight against Justin gaethje, valid by UFC 254, which takes place this Saturday (24), in Abu Dhabi, will be the first after the sad event and 'The Eagle' admitted to having experienced difficulties.

In an interview with Fight.com, Khabib seemed uncomfortable when remembering what happened, he opened up and confessed that he was living the most delicate moment of his life.

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“It’s very tough. I don't know why you guys keep asking this, but it's really, really hard. He was my father, he wasn't my coach. It was my father! It’s the most difficult moment of my life,” Khabib said.

However, Nurmagomedov considers himself a special athlete and explained that emotional control is what makes him different from other fighters.

“Of course I have emotions. I'm always nervous before fights, but there's a big difference between champions and ordinary fighters. Champions can control their emotions. Everyone has emotions. Sometimes you're nervous, sometimes you're afraid, not of getting punched or anything like that, but you're nervous, because you've trained really hard and anything can happen inside the octagon, anything. That's why you get a little nervous. Your whole family is watching you, the whole world is watching. The big difference between champions and ordinary fighters is the control of emotions”, he concluded.

In addition to raising Khabib, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov was his mentor and one of the great pillars for his son's success in MMA. He was also responsible for putting the lightweight champion and a legion of Russians on the path to martial arts. Abdulmanap passed away on July 3, 2020, at the age of 57, a victim of Covid-19.