Outside Source
Usman (21-0) recently defended the Professional Fighters League lightweight title for the second time against Alfie Davis at PFL Road to Dubai. Usman subsequently thanked his uncle for the heights that he has scaled in his career. Usman revealed that while their father pushed him and his brother, Umar, into sports, he didn’t have championship aspirations for them. However, their uncle Abdulmanap saw great potential in them and alerted their father about the same. While Abdulmanap is no longer with them, Usman is glad to have his son, Khabib Nurmagomedov, fill in his shoes.
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Realizing His Potential
“This everything is from my uncle Abdulmanap,” Usman said on the PFL Dubai broadcast. “My father pushed us into sports, but he didn’t have any plans that we’d be champions. But my uncle Abdulmanap, he believed in us. He always came to my father and told him, ‘Hey, I see your boys have big potential. Be careful with them.’ Today, uncle Abdulmanap is not with us, but his son keeps doing his job with us.”
Abdulmanap is often considered the pioneer of MMA in Dagestan. Abulmanap coached a group of elite fighters, including his son Khabib, in the mountains of Dagestan before bringing them over to the U.S. Khabib won the UFC lightweight title, paving the way for fighters from the Caucasus mountains to make their mark in the sport. After Khabib’s retirement as the undefeated champion in 2020, his teammate, Islam Makhachev became the champion in 2022. Abdulmanap had predicted all of it in what is now famously known as “Father’s Plan.”
Usman Nurmagomedov reveals how Abdulmanap convinced his father to let him and Umar pursue MMA. 🫡👏
“This everything is from my uncle Abdulmanap. My father pushed us into sports, but he didn’t have any plans that we’d be champions. But my uncle Abdulmanap, he believed in us. He… pic.twitter.com/JQI2AtElpT
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) February 10, 2026
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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