Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov revealed in a recent conversation with Demetrious Johnson that his children are focusing solely on gymnastics rather than following in his martial arts footsteps.
“I know how to fight, I’m gonna protect them. They don’t need to fight,” Nurmagomedov stated firmly. While he emphasizes the importance of his children being strong and maintaining physical fitness through training, he has specifically chosen to keep them away from combat sports competition.
This stance marks a significant shift from earlier statements when Nurmagomedov had previously mentioned his son starting wrestling training at three-and-a-half years old. At that time, he had said, “My son is already training [wrestling] and doing gymnastics. He has a good coach that I trust. He already trains in Makhachkala.”
The decision appears to stem from Nurmagomedov’s own experience in professional sports. He had previously expressed concerns about the unseen challenges athletes face, stating, “I don’t want him to go through all that I went. Because in professional sports most people don’t see what is inside. They only see a picture and videotapes which are like 40 minutes.”
Nurmagomedov, who retired with an unblemished 29-0 record in 2020, recently shared an endearing story about his son’s limited memory of his career. His son, who was only three when Khabib retired, once asked him, “Father, can you fight like Islam Makhachev?” demonstrating how young he was during his father’s competitive years.
Now, it appears the Nurmagomedov children will be pursuing excellence in gymnastics, with their father’s full support, while leaving the combat sports legacy firmly in their father’s capable hands.
