MMA legend says football remained his childhood dream despite a career shaped by his environment and family path.
World News | By Zulaikha Abram Amani
Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov says football has always been his true passion, even though his professional career led him into mixed martial arts.
Speaking about his early years, Nurmagomedov explained that his path into combat sports was largely influenced by his surroundings in Dagestan and by his father’s role as a coach, rather than a lack of interest in football.
“I have followed football all my life, and it has always been number one for me,” he said. “When I was a child, my dream was to become a footballer. But growing up in Dagestan, and with my father being a coach, my life moved toward professional fighting. I say this partly as a joke, because becoming a fighter wasn’t completely accidental, but football has always had a special place in my heart.”
Nurmagomedov, widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in MMA history, has frequently spoken about his love for football and remains closely connected to the sport as a fan, even after retiring unbeaten from professional competition.