Khabib Discusses Approach to Handling Umar Nurmagomedov’s First Career Loss

Umar
Nurmagomedov suffered his first loss at UFC 311. |
Getty/UFC

Khabib
Nurmagomedov wants Umar
Nurmagomedov to come out stronger from his first professional
loss. 

After retiring from MMA as the undisputed
UFC lightweight champion, Nurmagomedov has focused his energy
on coaching the team originally built by his father, Abdulmanap.
Most of the team is nearly undefeated, and they have a champion in
every major MMA promotion in the world. Nurmagomedov’s cousin,
Umar, tried to add another belt to the list by challenging Merab
Dvalishvili for the UFC bantamweight title this past January.
However, Umar suffered his first professional loss in a hard-fought
unanimous decision loss against Dvalishvili. 

Nurmagomedov says he has a different approach to help each fighter
get through tough situations. And Nurmagomedov was at a loss for
words in Umar’s case, as he admits that his cousin is probably the
closest to him among all the fighters. While Nurmagomedov is always
available as a mentor, he wants Umar to process the loss by
himself. Nurmagomedov believes Umar will only come out stronger
from dealing with the loss on his own. And if Umar doesn’t,
Nurmagomedov says he was probably never meant to be a champion.
However, Nurmagomedov hopes to see both Islam
Makhachev, and Umar as UFC champions simultaneously. “The
Eagle” believes Umar’s failed title bid against Dvalishvili could
be the harbinger of better things.

Khabib Expects Cousin to Emerge Stronger from First Defeat

“I prefer they get through those situations on their own,”
Nurmagomedov said on the “Hustle Show” (translation via Red Corner MMA). “Of
course, I’m always there to help, but it’s better for them in the
long run. Umar will come out stronger if he makes it through. If he
doesn’t, then maybe he was never meant to be champion… If he gets
through it, wins and earns a title shot, the victory will be even
sweeter. Honestly, it would’ve been a fairy tale ending — both
Islam and Umar as champs — but maybe the Almighty was protecting
him from something. Sometimes what we don’t get turns out to be for
the better. 

This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com

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