Khabib Nurmagomedov warns Islam Makhachev to not let the fans get to his head
Khabib Nurmagomedov revealed the kind of advice he gave his teammate, Islam Makhachev ahead of UFC 280.
On Saturday, Makhachev will compete in the biggest fight of his career against Charles Oliveira with the UFC lightweight title on the line. The pay-per-view event will take place in Abu Dhabi, which is considered to be a stronghold for the Dagestani contingent.
With that taken into consideration, Makhachev will surely enjoy the full support of the in-person audience come fight night. However, Nurmagomedov warned his protege about the distractions the circumstances presented.
During an interview with Red Corner MMA, 'The Eagle' revealed that he told Makhachev not to get too caught up in the moment. Asked what piece of advice he gave his longtime friend, the former undefeated UFC lightweight champion said:
"Just be yourself. You know, don't think about nothing. Focus on your opponent when the cage closes. You have to deal with Charles Oliveira. Not like many people who watch. Just Charles Oliveira and you. Think about yourself. Protect yourself and most important is first defense then attack.
Check out Khabib Nurmagomedov's interview in the clip below:
Charles Oliveira says Islam Makhachev received title shot because of Khabib Nurmagomedov
Charles Oliveira doesn't think Islam Makhachev earned a UFC lightweight title shot through his own merits.
As far as 'do Bronx' is concerned, the only reason Makhachev received the opportunity is due to his connection with Nurmagomedov. Oliveira pointed out that Makhachev is undeserving of his spot as he hasn't beaten any top-five contenders in the UFC's rankings.
During the UFC 280 media day in Abu Dhabi, the former 155-pound titleholder said:
"It’s for the history and everything he’s [Khabib Nurmagomedov] done. If it was any other guy, [Makhachev] would have to walk the walk that I had to walk, knocking on people’s doors, trying to get to a top-5. The reason why this fight is happening is because of him."
Catch Charles Oliveira's comments on Islam Makhachev:
Makhachev has been on a 10-fight winning streak leading up to the main event title clash. His most notable wins came against lowly-ranked contenders Dan Hooker and Thiago Moises.