Khabib Nurmagomedov took to Instagram to praise featherweight Zabit Magomedsharipov. The Dagestani fighter is currently on a 14-fight win streak in professional MMA.
Moreover, Zabit has also started well in the UFC with a 6-0 record. He has shot up the featherweight rankings with his wins against Calvin Kattar and Jeremy Stephens.
Currently, he is No.4 in the rankings behind the likes of Max Holloway and Brian Ortega. As of late, the fighter has been asking for his deserved shot at the title. Unfortunately, with Ortega next in line to fight the champ Alex Volkanovski, Zabit will have to wait his turn.
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The pair, Zabit, and Khabib were also present at Bellator 255 last week. They were in the corners of fighters Magomed Magomedov and Usman Nurmagomedov. Both the fighters won their respective bouts on the night.
After having retired from the UFC, it seems that Khabib has settled in well as a trainer and cornerman for his fellow countrymates. Naturally, the former UFC Champion brings experience and winning mentality to the table.
A New Role For Khabib Nurmagomedov?
Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from the UFC as Lightweight Champion with an undefeated 29-0 record. He vacated his title after successfully defending it thrice. He won his last fight against Justin Gaethje via submission.
Since then, Khabib has been spotted in the camps of his fellow native fighters. As a result, many have been speculating a possible shift in roles for the Russian. Moreover, it seems that he has already taken up this role for his cousin Usman Nurmagomedov.
UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov (L) and Usman Nurmagomedov at Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov Memory Tournament. (Credits: Getty Images)
Before his fight against Mike Hamel, Usman revealed in an interview how Khabib has been a mentor for him. The two brothers have been inseparable since they were young. The pair trained together regularly, leading up to Usman’s fight.
With a new generation of Russian MMA fighters coming up, Khabib could find himself playing a key role in their success. Furthermore, nobody is more qualified than Khabib for the task. As it stands, fans of the former UFC champ will be thoroughly excited, to see their favorite fighter take up his new role.
