“Khabib’s record that day 29-1”

While Khabib Nurmagomedov is a mentor to the talented team, which includes Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov, it appears they don’t always see eye to eye on certain philosophies about how to live. A friendly argument between ‘The Eagle’ and Makhachev has now garnered much fanfare on social media.

Locker room footage by Russian journalist Adam Zubayraev ahead of UFC 322 shows Nurmagomedov questioning Umar’s reading habits, insisting that his cousin taking a liking to Sicilian mafia novels was counterproductive to his fighting career:

“You live in Dagestan, why do you need Sicilian books. If you want to be a Mafiosco, sure, but you’re not aiming for that… I’m telling you, take only what you need… Okay, you have a gasoline car, you’re not going [to put diesel]. Don’t put diesel.”

This prompts Makhachev to cut in, trying to educate his friend, while also hilariously calling him out for hypocrisy:

“By reading books, you develop your Russian vocabulary, your worldview, you improve your understanding of everything else. I don’t intend to live by your [philosophy]. [Travelling] from Makhachkala to the other side of the world to watch soccer – that’s normal?”

Check out Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev’s hilarious argument below:

Suffice it to say, fight fans had a laugh or two at the pair’s antics, with many taking to social media to join in on the debate.

@Ssam38500610302 wrote:

“Khabib[‘s] record that day 29-1 lol.”

@GarzaBeatz opined:

“I honestly think this could be some high-level get your mind off the fight convo just to make the fight feel like any other day.”

@ramo7769 chimed in:

“Khabib makes a good argument against doom scrolling or doing what ALL OF US are doing on X right now. But not against reading books lol.”

Check out a few more comments below:

Khabib Nurmagomedov answers whether Islam Makhachev should retire after UFC 322 win

Ahead of Islam Makhachev’s welterweight title fight against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322, Adam Zubayraev asked Khabib Nurmagomedov whether his protege should retire if he wins a second belt. True to form, ‘The Eagle’s’ answer was one that reflected his wisdom as a mentor.

As the UFC Hall of Famer sees it, unlike him, Makhachev has no reason to lay down his gloves, especially when he is at his peak. Elaborating on the topic, Nurmagomedov said:

“At the peak? I didn’t stop because I was at my peak; I stopped because I had a loss in my life. The biggest loss of my life. [Was I still at my peak?] People thought so. I support every decision they make. I will support them in everything.”