Tear-Jerking Tribute To Khabib Nurmagomedov's Father Abdulmanap Releases Ahead Of Justin Gaethje Fight

An emotional tribute to Khabib Nurmagomedov's late father, Abdulmanap has released ahead of his son's return to action against Justin Gaethje.

Khabib will defend his lightweight title at UFC 254 on Saturday night in his first fight since September 2019.

It'll also be the first fight he's had since his father's tragic death in July.

BT Sport have dropped an animated video that shows just how important Abdulmanap, who also served as his son's trainer, was to Khabib's career.

The video begins with a young Khabib running up a hill with his father as they begin rigorous training.

What follows is a reference to 'The Eagle' fighting a bear in the woods of Dagestan.

Khabib would eventually make it to the UFC and become champion, but his father had issues getting an American visa.

Abdulmanap got to coach his son at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi, which saw Khabib dominate Dustin Poirier in the main event.

It was the last time Khabib fought with his father watching, and a number of newspaper clippings are shown hinting at retirement for the 32-year-old.

But the unbeaten fighter, fuelled by his father's teachings, storms up the same mountain he did as a youngster, ready to face his toughest challenge yet.

While Khabib currently boasts a 28-0 record, he explained earlier this month that he wouldn't be surprised if it came to an end one day.

"Nobody can be the same for long time," he told ESPN per Metro.

"Nobody. Not Tony Ferguson. Not Khabib. One day, somebody beat you.

"God doesn't give nobody power, speed, reaction, and mental everything in one level always. One day it's going to go down, and his day (Tony Ferguson) has come in May. Tony Ferguson is finished.

"Now he's going to come back and somebody's going to beat him again. When you take damage like this, you're never going to be the same, never ever, even if you're Tony Ferguson, he took too much damage.

"I like Tony Ferguson but he's stupid guy, this is what I think. He keep talking about me. Why are you talking about me? Justin Gaethje just smashed your face, smash you everywhere. Why are you talking about me?"

Who do you think will win in the main event of UFC 254? Khabib Nurmagomedov or Justin Gaethje?

Topics: Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, UFC News, MMA News, UFC, MMA

Daniel Marland

Daniel is a journalist for SPORTbible and he has previous experience with Manchester United. He has spoken to some of the biggest names in sport including Rio Ferdinand, Peter Crouch, WWE COO Triple H and WWE legend The Undertaker. May or may not do a decent impression of Jamie Carragher.

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