Khabib Nurmagomedov gave an interview at the World Trade Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where around 3,000 people gathered for the event. When the former UFC champion stepped onto the stage, the local audience erupted in excitement. "The Eagle" shared several personal stories, discussed money and business, and revealed what he is ashamed of. Telecomasia.net highlights the most interesting responses from the Russian fighter.
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"When you’re with family, you need privacy"
– There was a situation once when I was at the airport with my mother. Many people started approaching me, bothering me. When you’re with family, you need privacy. My mother told me to relax, saying that if they didn’t like me, they would never come up to me. They come up to you because they like you.
"At the weigh-in with Conor there were a lot of emotions, and the next day I smashed his face"
– After the weigh-in before my fight with Conor McGregor, I felt great, to be honest. I felt very proud to be a Muslim. Everyone believes in what they believe in. I never judge people for their beliefs; that's a personal choice.
But I am a Muslim, and I truly wanted to show that. I watched many fights of Muhammad Ali. When he converted to Islam, the whole system turned against him. It was very difficult for him because many people disliked it. If you don’t like it, who cares? That’s your personal problem.
Yes, that moment (before UFC 229) there were a lot of emotions. It was one day before the fight, and all the talk was over. I was very emotional, but at that moment, I controlled myself. There had been many months of preparation, and I was really happy that it was coming to an end, that there was only one night left. The next day, I smashed that guy’s face.
"A wealthy life is more dangerous; money brings problems"
– Did money, fame, and success change me? Possibly. That’s a question for others, people know better than I do. Of course, I will only say good things about myself. If you want an honest answer, you need to ask the people around me. Of course, people around me now would say that I'm a good guy.
Money and fame are two very powerful things, and you need to be careful with them. Some people want money badly but don't realize what comes with it. You become busy – business, travel. Money puts you in a dangerous position, and sometimes you don't even realize it.
– When people want money, they need to be cautious. Of course, it's hard to live without it, but it is what it is. I've experienced life on both sides, and I can say that a wealthy life is more dangerous. Money doesn't come alone; it brings along problems and forces you to work harder. You think that once you have money, you can relax? No. You make money and end up working even more, and when you make a lot of money, you work even harder to keep it.
With money comes a lot of crazy things. I’ve met many poor people, and they were happy. When you’ve been on both sides, you gain understanding and can see which side is better. Most of my life, I was poor.
Bet on MMA with 1xBet“The most memorable moment for me was meeting Zakir Naik”
– If we’re talking about experiences outside of sports, the most memorable moment for me was meeting Zakir Naik (an Indian Islamic preacher and president of the Islamic Research Foundation). I have been listening to him for 15 years – well, maybe less. When did I get my first iPhone? In 2012? That’s when I started listening to him. When I got my first iPhone, I found him on YouTube.
When I was 17 years old, I wanted a phone, but I didn’t have one. I met Naik at the World Cup in Qatar. A dream became a reality.
“Fighting is very easy”
– Business is much more difficult than fighting! Fighting is really quite simple. You’re one-on-one with your opponent, the cage is closed, and it’s a 25-minute match. You know what’s beautiful about my sport? If you truly hate someone, you can smash them and get paid for it. If you do that on the street, you'll end up in prison.
I really disliked that guy (Conor), and I got paid for beating him. This business is so much better. The farming business, however? If you make a mistake, it can cost you a lot, and you need to be constantly involved.
“I made many mistakes”
– Of course, I regret many things when I look back at my fights or press conferences. What was I even saying back then? I don’t like to watch my own interviews. It’s better to watch my fights; there’s no talking, just fighting. I have many regrets, and I made many mistakes.
“There’s no freedom of speech between parents and children”
– What would I do if my mom asked me to achieve a 30-0 record? First of all, I don’t think she would say that. I don’t think she knows about this 29-0 record. Maybe she knows, but she doesn’t care. In the relationship between parents and children, there is no freedom of speech.
When you're 17, you think you're the king of the world and know everything. However, when you talk to your parents, there’s no freedom of speech. “I’m 17 already, I'm an adult!” Even if you’re 50 years old and your mother is alive, you should listen to her.
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