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Khabib Nurmagomedov has clarified why he missed childhood pal and UFC protege Islam Makhachev’s gorgeous victory over Alexander Volkanovski.
The previous UFC champion, who completed his profession with an unbeaten 29-0 report, stated it was common for him to not be within the nook in Abu Dhabi on Saturday evening.
Nurmagomedov grew to become Makhachev’s coach following his retirement in 2020, however the ‘Eagle’ introduced earlier this yr that he had taken a step again from the UFC.
Makhachev shocked Volkanovski with a first-round knockout at UFC 294, retaining the light-weight title of their rematch.
In February, Makhachev outpointed Volkanovski – who holds the featherweight belt – within the latter’s native Australia, in a aggressive conflict that left many followers needing a rematch.
Nurmagomedov congratulated Makhachev on his victory earlier than responding to followers who had questioned his absence from ringside.
“For those who guys ask me the place have I been? Why wasn’t I within the nook, I already answered this query,” he posted on Instagram.
“I don’t go to fights, I don’t go to the nook and I fully left every little thing associated to MMA. I ask you to just accept my resolution the identical method as my brothers, mates and sparring companions did. What our crew achieved will without end be within the historical past of MMA.”
Makhachev had already addressed the truth that Nurmagomedov wouldn’t be in his nook earlier than UFC 294, telling reporters that he understood and supported his mentor’s resolution.
“Right here is my clarification: We now have a really huge crew,” Makhachev stated. “What if Khabib is there for one in all us? We’re all equal.
“Regardless of if anyone’s a champion and the opposite man continues to be on his method up, all of us assist one another. If he’s there for my battle, he’ll must be there for each single one from our crew to not let anybody really feel deserted.
“He has already stated that he won’t attend the fights and he won’t nook anybody. And all of us assist him on this resolution.”
Halfway by way of the primary spherical of the principle occasion, southpaw Makhachev skimmed his left shin off Volkanovski’s head, wobbling and dropping the featherweight king. Makhachev, 31, adopted up with a fierce flurry of hammer fists to the grounded Aussie, whose forehead cut up open amid the onslaught.
Referee Marc Goddard stepped in, confirming an emphatic victory and title defence for Makhachev, the mentee and childhood pal of UFC light-weight nice Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The outcome prolonged Makhachev’s win streak to 13 fights, courting again to 2015, when he suffered the only lack of his skilled profession. In the meantime, Volkanovski was overwhelmed for the third time as a professional, although he stays undefeated at his most well-liked weight of 145lbs.
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