"Khabib had the hardest time after the death of Abdulmanap": Khasbulayev about Nurmagomedov's training and chances in a battle with Gatji

- This Saturday, your cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov will fight Justin Gaethje at

- I would like to refrain from making forecasts.

It's a little out of my style.

But I know how Khabib prepared for this fight.

Hope he gets the upper hand.

- Nurmagomedov began training in Dagestan.

Did you help him during this period?

- I attended some trainings.

Sometimes they fought with him, stood in pairs.

Today Khabib is in great shape.

I think that if he manages to pull Gaethje into the ground, he will not be able to get back on his feet until the end of the round.

At this moment, only the referee can save him.

- For the first time, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov did not participate in the training process

- It was not easy to come to terms with his loss.

To be honest, sometimes there is a feeling that Abdulmanap is still in the hall, waiting for us.

And when we come, they will scold us again for missing workout again or skipping somewhere.

He will forever remain in our memory.

- What was Abdulmanap like as a coach?

- He gave himself entirely to his students, provided them with all kinds of conditions for development.

He trained, he worked with us.

Speaking about Abdulmanapa, it is very difficult to express in words all that he meant for his pupils.

- Perhaps some advice of Abdulmanap you remember the most?

- The last time we talked to him after my last victory (over Levan Makashvili.

).

It was already known then that most likely my next opponent would be Felipe Froes.

I remember meeting him on the street.

He was driving past, but he stopped the car and called me over to him.

He said what exactly I need to add, what to work on in order to achieve success and become a champion.

- How difficult was it to enter the hall for the first time without him?

- To realize this, you need to experience something like that.

Otherwise you will not understand.

This is a huge loss for us.

After his death it was very difficult to continue on his way.

Of course, someone experienced a little harder.

It all depends on the character.

But we try to hold on and move on.

- Khabib always called his father the closest person in the world.

How did he feel about his departure?

- Yes, he had a very warm relationship with his father.

They were together all the time - both at home and in the hall.

Therefore, Khabib felt much more pressure after the death of Abdulmanap than all of us.

Still, we are his students, and he is a son.

It was harder for him.

- How have Nurmagomedov's requirements for himself changed?

- I think at that moment he realized that he could rely exclusively on himself.

I realized that Abdulmanap was no longer around, so in some moments he began to give all his best than before.

I think that Khabib approaches the fight with Justin much more motivated than the previous battles.

- Speaking about the preparation itself, this time the training process was seriously different from what it was under Abdulmanapa?

- I would not say.

We tried to stick to his plan, use his methods and best practices.

But we lack Abdulmanap's ability to motivate, energize.

- The same Zubayra Tukhugov said that Khabib most of all adopted the experience of his father and is now trying to take on the burden of leadership in the team.

This is true?

- Naturally, Khabib has always been a leader.

Still, he plays in such a major MMA promotion, he owns the title of champion.

However, he never allowed himself to be proud and proud of his status.

He communicates on equal terms with his teammates, constantly supports them and gives advice.

- As part of his podcast on YouTube, Nurmagomedov told about his training sessions under the guidance of Javier Mendes.

Are they very different from those that he spent in Dagestan?

- We have a lot of great freestyle wrestlers in our homeland, so the emphasis in training always shifts towards wrestling.

Of course, we try to improve our skills in all aspects, but there are certain priorities.

- Many fans are wondering how great is

Mendes's

- I think, first of all, Khabib owes his success to his father.

He has trained him since childhood, taught him the basics and invested more in him than anyone else.

I do not remember that he did not perform at least something of what Abdulmanap told him.

And later, Mendes himself and his teammates contributed to his further development.

- Gatji is called the most dangerous rival in Nurmagomedov's career.

Do you agree?

- Yes, Justin managed to surprise many people.

On the eve of the last fight, most considered his rival Ferguson to be the favorite, fans and experts were sure that Tony would not experience serious problems.

But Gaethje created a sensation and demonstrated that he was able to remain cool throughout all five rounds and strictly adhere to the coaching plan.

As a result, he dealt with his opponent quite easily.

- How dangerous is he for the champion?

- Gaci is younger than Nurmagomedov, has a powerful punch, and fights very well.

Yes, in the last fight he did not have the opportunity to demonstrate his skills on the ground, but there is no doubt that he has them at a fairly high level.

No wonder he played in the first division of the NCAA.

If a person has a wrestling base, then it can be very difficult to transfer him to the ground.

- Were you surprised by the result of the fight between Gaethje and Ferguson?

- I imagined the development of this fight in a different way.

I didn't think Justin would show himself so well.

At the same time, I expected much more from Ferguson.

I thought he was able to pull his counterpart to the ground.

- According to Nurmagomedov, the defeat at Gatji actually heralded that Ferguson's time had passed.

Do you agree?

- I think yes.

And it's not just about age.

It seems to me that his inner fire has gone out.

Ferguson has consistently been at the top of the division over the years, and now he will have to start all over again.

He needs to win at least two fights in order to challenge the title again.

- In the run-up to

- Makhachev would take over Ferguson.

Islam is not much inferior to Khabib and continues to progress both in the standing position and in the ground.

If he works that hard, he could very well become the next Russian UFC lightweight champion.

Of course, after Nurmagomedov ends his career.

- Speaking of standing skills, who is more dangerous - Gatji or Conor McGregor?

- It's hard to say, both are very good in striking technique.

Probably McGregor is a little faster, but Gaethje has a heavier punch.

- Dare to give a forecast for the duel between Nurmagomedov and Gatji?

- In my opinion, Khabib is superior to Justin in all aspects of the fight - both in the standing position and in the ground.

Perhaps I say this because I root for him, but I have this feeling.

I cannot say that Nurmagomedov is now at least somewhat inferior to Gatji.