Khabib Nurmagomedov shares icy two-word reply to brutal Dagestan training footage

Khabib Nurmagomedov introduced the majority of MMA fans to the region of Dagestan, a republic of Russia. Nurmagomedov often referenced the place he was born and raised during his appearances at UFC press conferences.

Recently, old footage of Nurmagomedov training in the rugged terrain of his home surfaced online, where he shared a two-word reaction to the video. The footage was posted to Instagram by @efc_dagestan, who wrote:

"The famous duck with stones at Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov's mountain range. In the case Khabib, Islam Makhachev, Eldar Eldarov, Tagir Ulanbekov. 2011, Hustada."

Check out Khabib Nurmagomedov training in Dagestan below:

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Upon seeing the footage online, Nurmagomedov shared a short but poignant reflection of the moment, writing:

"Amazing memories."

Screenshot of Nurmagomedov's reaction to seeing old footage of him training in Dagestan

The former UFC lightweight champion was guided by his late father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, who oversaw an MMA program in the mountains of Dagestan that produced numerous MMA and Sambo world champions. The likes of Islam Makhachev and Usman Nurmagomedov also spent their youth grinding away in the Caucasus mountain range.

Belal Muhammad unpacks brutal reality of training with Khabib Nurmagomedov

Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of the greatest fighters in the history of MMA. Relentless pressure and unwavering domination were hallmarks of Nurmagomedov's career, and he retired with an undefeated 29-0 record.

Stories of the former UFC lightweight champion's insatiable work ethic and brutal training sessions have been told for years. Current UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad has now shared an insight into what training alongside 'The Eagle' is really like.

Muhammad has trained with Nurmagomedov part-time since 2023, and he recently appeared on the Barstool Chicago podcast, where he detailed the sessions. He said:

"A lot of times, you'll go to gyms and you'll know, 'I feel sore today, so I'm gonna go lighter with this guy.' There's not a light round in that gym. And Khabib, he's still training, he's still going hard, he's smashing me no matter what. So it's always good because you level up with those guys. It humbles you, right? I'm the champion now, [but] they don't care if you're the champion.You still have to do the pushups, you still have to do the running with the team."

Check out Belal Muhammad discuss training with Khabib Nurmagomedov below (18:00):

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Liam is a MMA and Boxing writer at Sportskeeda. His journey into MMA journalism began with a high school diploma in 2017, but his passion for writing led him to diverse experiences, including internships in research and writing roles and accounting work.

Liam's fascination with MMA was sparked by Conor McGregor, with Dustin Poirier's bout against Dan Hooker in 2020 sealing his love for the sport. Poirier remains Liam's favorite fighter, whom he admires for his attitude, fighting style, and persona both inside and outside the cage. He is an advocate for the removal of the 12-6 elbow rule in MMA.

Liam strives to report precise and relevant information by cross-checking his work, reaching out to relevant sources for comments, and adhering to Sportskeeda's guidelines. His work has been recognized on popular MMA platforms, with his article headlines featuring in YouTube recaps and appearing onscreen during an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience.

Outside of work, Liam enjoys playing cricket, practising Brazilian jiu-jitsu, cooking, music, and reading.

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Edited by Tejas Rathi