Khabib’s press conference: opening own league, and building a school in honor of his father
On August 14th, an online press conference of the champion of the Absolute Fighting Championship (UFC) in lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov took place in Moscow. ORIENT has highlighted several main themes.
The fighter opened his own league, which organizes fights according to the rules of mixed martial arts
“We have opened our own league - MMA Global,” Nurmagomedov said. - The battles will take place in one place, this is just right at the time of the pandemic. In October or November there will be the first tournament in Florida.
Admitted that he was thinking about retirement
“I also had different thoughts about retirement, but I already have a fight,” Nurmagomedov said. - I am soon 32 years old, I am already a veteran of this sport, for more than 8 years I have been in the UFC. Now I want to fight, be busy with something. The training regimen helps me distract myself.
In July 2020, the champion's father and coach passed away. Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov did not overcome complications caused by coronavirus infection.
In his youth, Nurmagomedov Sr. served in Turkmenistan for two years and told Khabib a lot about this country. ORIENT has already written about the fighter's intentions to visit Ashgabat in 2018.
Khabib Nurmagomedov noted that thinking about his father can give him motivation. “This, of course, bothers me, I think about him,” Nurmagomedov said. “Maybe these feelings will take me to a new level, make me stronger.”
Wants to build a school in the mountains of Dagestan in honor of his father
“We want to build a school high in the mountains, at an altitude of 2.2 km above sea level,” Nurmagomedov said. - It will serve as a training base for 100 people.
Allowed the possibility of a rematch with the Irishman Conor McGregor
- Let him come back, defeat Dustin Poirier, then we will fight with him - no problem, - said Nurmagomedov.
The Irishman lost to the Russian by a choke hold in the fourth round in the title fight in the fall of 2018.
After the battle in the arena, a massive brawl took place between representatives of both teams. McGregor announced his retirement in June this year. The Irishman is one of the most popular fighters in the UFC, he became the first in the history of the organization to simultaneously hold two titles in different weight classes (featherweight and lightweight).
Nurmagomedov will hold his next fight against American Justin Gaethje. The fight will take place on October 24 at UFC 254 on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Khabib had his previous fight on September 7, 2019, defending his title in a duel with American Dustin Poirier. In total, the athlete has 28 victories and not a single defeat. Gaethje has 24 fights, having lost twice.
