appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Paige Turner

Khabib Nurmagomedov is both an amazing athlete and an amazing human being. His powerful presence pulverises the competition at any meet while his kind, generous nature has amazed rivals and fans alike. Following are five more fascinating facts you may want to know about the world-famous Russian MMA star.

He lost a ﻿lot of fights before becoming a champion
Believe it or not, Nurmagomedov wasn’t always a champion. He started training at the age of five, pursuing over half a dozen combat sports and entering numerous competitions at his father’s behest. Sadly, he continually lost until he cut down the number of martial arts he was engaged in at the age of 16. At that point, his career soared as he began winning competitions on a regular basis.
Could Conor McGregor win this US$50m charity fight?
He married his first love, the elusive Patimat Nurmagomedov

Not much is known about Patimat Nurmagomedov, except that she is a distant relative of her husband and that she was also his first love. The two sat together in school for only a year before Khabib’s family moved away, but it seems that was all it took. Nurmagomedov returned to his native village to propose to Patimat in 2013 and the two have been happily married since then. However, in spite of her famous spouse's fame, Patimat remains elusive. She isn’t on social media and only close friends and family members even know what she looks like.
5 reasons why Eumir Marcial is more than ‘the next Manny Pacquiao’
He almost quit to become a bouncer

Severe injuries forced Nurmagomedov to take a two-year break from MMA wrestling. At this point, he was so discouraged that he seriously considered taking on a job as a bouncer to continue providing for his family. However, his father would hear nothing of it. Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov told his son that he needed to eat well, go to the gym and not give up. Khabib took his advice, went on to recover from his injuries and achieve world fame as an unbeaten MMA champ.
Who is Valentina Shevchenko, UFC champ in Bruised?
He is the most popular athlete in Russia

Not surprisingly, Nurmagomedov is the most popular athlete in Russia. When he told his then-opponent Conor McGregor on Twitter that he had “144 million people” behind him, he meant it. Nurmagomedov can count on his countrymen to come out to cheer him on no matter where or when he fights. What’s more, he has more than 18 million fans following his Instagram account, nearly two million Facebook followers and close to 900,000 Twitter followers.
He talks while he fights

As if simply fighting Nurmagomedov isn’t formidable enough, his opponents have to also put up with their opponent continually talking to them as he takes them down. Nurmagomedov told opponent Michael Johnson, “You have to give up. I need to fight for the title. You know this. I deserve it.” He rambled during his fight with Conor McGregor, and later told the Irishman that MMA is meant to be a sport built on respect, not a “trash-talking” one.
MMA fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov spends his millions – on others
Khabib Nurmagomedov is a fascinating character. He comes from a close family and clearly loves and respects his wife. He shows respect for many of his adversaries, even donating to one of his opponents’ charitable foundations. He’s also a hard worker who puts a premium on self-discipline and perseverance, working for decades to win his place as an MMA champion. Given his stellar character and commitment to his sport, it’s not surprising that Khabib is respected and admired by people of all ages and walks of life.
Want more stories like this? Sign up here. Follow STYLE on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter .


Prime Video K-drama A Love Other Than Yours: Seo Kang-joon, Ahn Eun-jin face 10-year itch

Who is Kevin Costner’s rumoured new girlfriend? Meet lifestyle coach Jennifer Milburn

Meet Anthony Ippolito, who stars as Sylvester Stallone in upcoming biopic I Play Rocky

Meet Mariska Hargitay’s 3 children, who joined her at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards

Fame and celebrity

Khabib Nurmagomedov – 5 things to know about the undefeated Russian UFC champion who beat Conor McGregor and faces Tony Ferguson next

How much do you really know about Russian UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov? Photo: EPA-EFE

Khabib Nurmagomedov beat Conor McGregor by submission at UFC 229. Photo by Reuters/Stephen R. Sylvanie

MMA - UFC 242 Open Workout - Khabib Nurmagomedov & Dustin Poirier - Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - September 4, 2019 Khabib Nurmagomedov during the workout REUTERS/Christopher Pike

Russian UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov, jumps during Lightweight title mixed martial arts bout at UFC 242, fight against UFC fighter Dustin Poirier, of Lafayette, La., in Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday , Sept.7 2019. (AP Photo/ Mahmoud Khaled)

epa07837892 Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) meets with Head of Dagestan Republic Vladimir Vasilyev (2-L), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight titleholder Khabib Nurmagomedov (2-R) and his father, coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov (R), in Makhachkala, Russia, 12 September 2019. EPA-EFE/ALEXEY NIKOLSKY/ SPUTNIK / KREMLIN POOL

Russian UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov speaks after wining against UFC fighter Dustin Poirier, of Lafayette, La., during Lightweight title mixed martial arts bout at UFC 242, in Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Saturday , Sept.7 2019. (AP Photo/ Mahmoud Khaled)

epa07898131 Russian Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight titleholder Khabib Nurmagomedov attends a press conference during the 2019 Synergy Global Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, 05 October 2019. EPA-EFE/ANATOLY MALTSEV

UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov beats Conor McGregor both in the cage and in generosity – as these kindhearted stunts prove

Khabib Nurmagomedov, left, punches Conor McGregor during a lightweight title mixed martial arts bout at UFC 229 in Las Vegas. Photo: AP Photo

Dustin Poirier poses with Khabib Nurmagomedov after their UFC 242 fight in Abu Dhabi.

LeBron James inspired Conor McGregor to spend his millions on his body – but will it ensure a UFC comeback victory against Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone?

Conor McGregor credits LeBron James with his decision to take more serious care of his body in the lead-up to his UFC comeback fight, against Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone. Photos: AP Photo

As Valentina Shevchenko gets ready to fight Jennifer Maia in UFC 255, who is the Kyrgyzstani-Peruvian flyweight champion they call ‘The Bullet’ of MMA?

Valentina Shevchenko is the current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) flyweight champion. Photo: Instagram

Magazines

Style

News & Trends

Celebrities

He met Russian President Vladimir Putin, almost quit MMA to become a bouncer – and no one has ever seen his wife Patimat Nurmagomedov


He met Vladimir Putin, almost quit MMA to become a bouncer – and no one has ever seen his wife Patimat Nurmagomedov


Russia

Martial arts

Millionaires, billionaires and trillionaires

Khabib Nurmagomedov – 5 things to know about the undefeated Russian UFC champion who beat Conor McGregor and faces Tony Ferguson next

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}He met Russian President Vladimir Putin, almost quit MMA to become a bouncer – and no one has ever seen his wife Patimat Nurmagomedov

He met Russian President Vladimir Putin, almost quit MMA to become a bouncer – and no one has ever seen his wife Patimat Nurmagomedov