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By becoming UFC lightweight champion Saturday, Islam Makhachev fulfilled a prophecy.
Maybe it was really just a lifelong friend expressing faith and brotherhood, but when Khabib Nurmagomedov briefly interrupted a Makhachev news conference three years ago, it felt like something far more consequential. Let’s call it a coronation-in-waiting.
Nurmagomedov was still the champion then, having just defended his 155-pound belt that night at UFC 242 with a dominant finish of Dustin Poirier. Makhachev had competed earlier that evening in Abu Dhabi — scene of this weekend’s fight card, too — and also had put on a thrashing performance. Another thrashing performance. After beating up Davi Ramos to run his record to 18-1, Makhachev was sitting at the postfight dais explaining to reporters how he’d gotten it done.
Until Nurmagomedov entered the scene. The champ was carrying his UFC belt, and he placed it on the table in front of Makhachev, then walked off after speaking just two words.
“Future champ.”
Nurmagomedov’s emphasis was on “champ,” but the essential word here was the other one. That’s something Makhachev immediately made clear.
“I already waiting when he retired,” a smiling Makhachev said as he glanced over at the shiny strap. “I want to fight for this belt. This my dream.”
That dream came true Saturday in the main event of UFC 280, when Makhachev upstaged a star-studded fight card lineup with a stunning second-round submission of Charles Oliveira. It was an achievement that somehow became even more meaningful when the coveted belt was wrapped around the new champ’s waist by a beaming Nurmagomedov, who lifted his friend onto his shoulders and paraded him around the Octagon.
Then Makhachev tried to hand Nurmagomedov the belt that he had worn until his sudden retirement two years ago, which fulfilled a promise Khabib had made to his mother following the death of his father, Abdulmanap. Back in their native Dagestan, the elder Nurmagomedov had coached not just his…
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Source : espn
