“Now we read Gamzatov in English”: Nurmagomedov’s father about the education of Khabib and his fight with Ferguson in Russia

- How did you decide to raise a champion from your son?

- Having entered college, he almost did not differ from you, he was exactly the same student, went to training. But when after a year and a half I got into the youth team of Russia, we transferred him to the correspondence department, because you can’t miss classes in this educational institution. And at the training camp, day and night, I made Habib engage.

- You can tell more about this ...

- At the training camp, we usually worked 5.5 hours each, but in the evening he took Ozhegov’s handbook and wrote out a hundred unfamiliar words from there. Everyone went to bed, and Habib studied the book. In the summer after the end of the sixth grade, he memorized 200 hadiths (a legend about the words and actions of the Prophet Muhammad. - RT ), for which I gave him a bicycle.

- Habib knows Turkish and English ...

- He began to study them a little later. By the way, he was expelled from college precisely because of his lack of knowledge of English at the proper level. But now the head teacher is asking to forgive her when he hears how Habib talks at press conferences around the world. Believe me, I always put mental development in the first place. He said to his son: “First, study, and only then sport.”

- How did Habib generally study?

- In geography and history, he often argued with other guys and then came, asking to confirm his opinion. And in most cases, he really was right. In the sixth grade, he gave him a 246-page book on geography, and he could name the area of ​​each country, the foundations of its economy, and some peculiarities. Somewhere he simply did not have enough time. But now we read Rasul Gamzatov in English.

- Habib did not have moments when he wanted to quit sports?

- The son suffered eight fractures and four operations. The most difficult thing was done to him in Germany when they treated herniated discs. People with such problems think about whether they will walk normally, and on the third day Habib reached the window with a gurney, and four months later beat Darrell Horcher.

“Habib also had surgery on the cruciate ligament.” How difficult was the recovery?

- He asked if his leg would be as mobile as before. Unfortunately not. I notice this by the way he performs various exercises. For example, playing football, he can not hit from the summer with both legs. And then he was just talking about ending his career. He explained that I believe in him, and this is only a barrier to the future path. As a result, they went to the training camp, and Habib continued to win.

- What is it like to be a champion father?

- You know, in the group of children with whom I was engaged, only four out of 14 guys had complete families. We had to buy products and follow their studies. But now, right away, six of my students earn serious money in sports, build kindergartens, and help the poor. And they become champions only through study and colossal work.

- Which son’s victory is most proud of?

- I liked his fight with Rafael dos Angus. Before this fight, we worked in the mountains for three months, and Habib was ready as never before. He told him: “If you win, you can make serious conclusions about you.” He explained that the Brazilian is a contender for the title. As a result, the son won outright, and then was injured and out of action for two years. Habib underwent four operations, and Dus Anjus became the champion.

- But then Khabib still took the belt ...

- In fact, it was a fight between two champions. Both were at their peak, but the son was head and shoulders stronger in their full-time confrontation. And if you take the best fight in terms of hype and money, it is clear that we are talking about a meeting with Conor McGregor. However, he never considered him a strong opponent. He is a showman.

“What about Dustin Porje?”

- He made his son worry, for example, when he tried to strangle him. And he went through the whole hall, only to say hello to me. Then I said that Dustin is really worthy of respect.

- How do you feel about the statement of Tony Ferguson that he is not a contender for the title, but a champion?

“Habib won the belt and defended him twice already.” More often in the UFC lightweight title, only Ben Henderson, BJ Penn and Frankie Edgar did this. Our task is to get around them. Habib had just about two fights left. And so my son already owns six different world records, and one more to me. If we two have ten such achievements, I think it will be normal.

- How do you look at the fact that the UFC will make the fifth attempt to conduct a fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson?

- Tony is the only fighter from the top 10 lightweight UFC, which his son has not yet surpassed. You always try to beat the strongest, so that you are recognized as such. Therefore, I want Habib to meet Ferguson in Russia - Moscow or St. Petersburg in the next fight. So that 42 thousand people gathered at the stadium. We will try to do everything in our power to organize this battle.