UFC 294 was a triumphant night for Dagestan as the mountain boy, Islam Makhachev, displayed his dominance by defending and defeating featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski once again. However, fans were disappointed by one thing—the absence of Makhachev’s head coach, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Now, the former UFC champion himself shares the reason why he wasn’t present at the Abu Dhabi event.
Khabib Nurmagomedov Addresses UFC 294 No-Show as Islam Makhachev’s Head Coach
For those who are not aware that Nurmagomedov had been training Islam Makhachev for his bout against the Australian champion. As the head coach, his presence was typically anticipated at the event, as we’ve seen other coaches and team members always in attendance to support the fighter and offer guidance on fight strategy. However, with Nurmagomedov’s absence, it raised significant questions.
If you were wondering about his whereabouts and why he wasn’t in the corner, he’s already provided an answer. He doesn’t attend fights, doesn’t participate in corner duties, and has distanced himself entirely from the world of MMA. He’s requesting that fans should respect his decision, just as his brothers, friends, and sparring partners have.
In a short-notice rematch, UFC lightweight champion Makhachev successfully defended his title against UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Makhachev secured a first-round TKO with a powerful left head kick that sent Volkanovski to the canvas, leading the referee to intervene after a barrage of unanswered headshots. This intense rivalry reaches its pinnacle with a significant victory for Makhachev and Khabib’s training has worked quite well.
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From the very beginning, Khabib and Islam have been there for each other, providing unwavering support. It was Khabib who guided Islam on the path to securing his championship and he did it once despite not being present at the octagon.
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