Islam Makhachev admits concerns with weight cut to Khabib Nurmagomedov ahead of UFC 284
Islam Makhachev has revealed the conversation he had with MMA superstar Khabib Nurmagomedov ahead of his fight at UFC 284.
After the ceremonial weigh-ins, the Dagestani did an interview with John Gooden. Makhachev admitted that the weight cut was not easy and Nurmagomedov was constantly checking up on him during the morning of the weigh-ins.
"He sent me many questions in the morning about the weight cut because, you see, not easy weight cut," said Islam Makhachev.
You can listen to the full Islam Makhachev interview below:
Islam Makhachev's journey to the weighing scale was not an easy one. The 31-year-old has had difficulties with cutting weight in the past. A similar situation appears to have transpired ahead of the UFC 284 weigh-ins.
During live coverage of the UFC 284 weigh-ins, former UFC champion Michael Bisping revealed that he was given a heads up about the possibility of Makhachev missing weight.
"Rumor is that he was struggling. And he was one of the last to come down. So we were getting told by the producers, 'Just be ready because there's a very good possibility that Islam doesn't make weight."
Check out Bisping's comments below:
The weight cut seemed brutal for Makhachev. He was the last fighter to step on the weighing scale and got emotional when he was declared on weight by the officials.
Khabib Nurmagomedov will not be present in Islam Makhachev's corner for UFC 284
The stakes could not get higher as Islam Makhachev will compete in arguably the biggest fight of his MMA career against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284. But this time, his childhood friend and MMA icon Khabib Nurmagomedov will not be present in the 31-year-old's corner to help him emerge victorious.
But that does not mean 'The Eagle' will not support Makhachev from a distance. The lightweight champion recently revealed that despite not being present in Perth, Nurmagomedov was constantly in touch with him, asking him about his training and weight cut.
"Every day, every morning he [Khabib Nurmagomedov] messages me, 'How is your weight? How are you training? What did you do in sparring?' Also other coaches, coach Javier, they send him videos of the sparring. He gives me good advice every day," said Islam Makhachev.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has been calling Islam Makhachev every day in the lead up to UFC 284 in Perth ☎️
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