Though he is retired, there is no denying that Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of the greatest fighters the UFC has had to offer. However, most wonder how “The Eagle” came into being since there is little information known on how the currently retired UFC champion got to where he is right now.
Perhaps one of the best persons to tell reveal that is his friend and current BRAVE CF Lightweight champion Eldar Eldarov. The 29-year-old shared how he crossed paths with the 32-year-old fighter though it hardly comes as a surprise.
It turns out that a clash between them blossomed into a wonderful friendship. Both ended up facing each other as both were desperate to make strides in the mixed martial arts scene. They both wanted to make a name for themselves and fighting each other was the way to go.
“The fight was short notice. We only agreed to fight each other because we were both desperate to find fights,” Eldarov explained. “After the fight, we were together celebrating like nothing happened between us in the cage.”
Nurmagomedov won over Eldarov via TKO in the second round but the outcome turned out to be the bond established between them. Both became close friends, something that lasts to this day.
At that time, Nurmagomedov was already on the UFC radar. The only problem was linking him with the promotion. This was where Elardov entered the picture.
The lightweight champion was more active on Facebook and knew how to speak English. He found the UFC on Facebook and was able to touch base with them.
“At one point, I was told, ‘You know, we have a friend who works with Dana White (UFC president).’ They were asking about Shamil Zavurov. But M-1 Global would not let him go,” Eldarov stated.
Dana White determined to book another Khabib Nurmagomedov fight: ‘I’m gonna press him as hard as I can for one more’ https://t.co/e9iEw3e3O8 pic.twitter.com/rvxjxEMChj — MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) January 10, 2021
It took a lot of work to give Nurmagomedov the push. That included listing down his fights and uploading available videos. It eventually paid off with the UFC sending over a contract.
“We signed the contract immediately, but he (Abdulmanap) constantly reminded me to read it. He frequently asked questions like ‘What will they do in case of injury?’ or ‘Will there be medical insurance?’ Things like that. He just wanted Khabib to be safe,” Eldarov explained.
And from there, most know how Nurmagomedov’s career went. Though he is retired, critics feel that he will eventually return to the cage once the time is right.
As for Eldarov, he is busy preparing for his title defense at BRAVE CF 46 in Sochi, Russia on Jan. 16. He will face Brazilian Leonardo Mafra with his buddy Nurmagomedov likely to be among the ones watching.
