Khabib Nurmagomedov, the former UFC lightweight champion, revealed that his childhood dream was to become a football player.
The athlete noted that football has always remained his favorite sport, and it played a central role in his life. Nurmagomedov also explained that his transition to the world of mixed martial arts did not happen immediately, largely due to the influence of his father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, who acted as his coach.
In October 2020, Khabib ended his fighting career, defeating Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. He announced his final retirement from sports in March 2021. However, he continued his career in MMA as a coach.
Under his guidance, fighters train both in the UFC and in other organizations, including PFL champion Usman Nurmagomedov. Previously, Khabib stated that he would completely leave MMA after the careers of his protégés - Islam Makhachev, Umar, and Usman Nurmagomedov - come to an end.
