Belal Muhammad is grateful for Khabib Nurmagomedov’s guidance as he approaches his first championship opportunity.
Muhammad will face Leon Edwards in a highly anticipated welterweight title bout in the main event of UFC 304 in Manchester on Saturday, and recently traveled to Dagestan to train with Nurmagomedov in preparation for the upcoming bout.
Muhammad claims that a bit of advice from the former lightweight champion has proven invaluable, and he’s happy to have the opportunity to receive tutelage from “The Eagle,” who he regards as the MMA GOAT.
“It’s been a blessing in every way,” Muhammad told Shakiel Majli, “physically, mentally, spiritually, it takes me to another level. Like I said before, people used to make fun of me, like, ‘Get the jock off of him,’ and stuff like that. To train with him and get his advice is worth 20, 30, 40, 50 days more than training with anybody else. You get to feel his intensity, the pressure, the knowledge he gives you. And then he gives you advice, advice on what you should do in this fight, how should you analyze Leon, and then he gives you what his game plan is. The knowledge is limitless, because to me he’s the GOAT of MMA and the UFC. He’s like a brother that I can message and ask questions to. I send him questions and he always responds. Having him in my life is literally priceless.”
UFC 304: Edwards vs. Muhammad, Saturday at 10pm ET on ESPN+. Order now! Nurmagomedov has a reputation for being very strict in his gym in Dagestan. Muhammad confirmed the reports, claiming that the training doubles when Nurmagomedov is there. Muhammad went on to reveal that anyone who can’t keep up with the rigorous training is asked to leave.
“They don’t have any hidden powers, they don’t have any secrets. Their team is just hard working,” Muhammad said. “They just work too hard. When Khabib comes, it’s twice the work, it’s twice the pressure. It’s a different level. I think that’s why a lot of their guys are mentally strong, because they’ve been through the hardest things in camp, the hardest things in practice, the hardest situations. But Khabib just keeps pushing you and tells you to quit if you don’t like it. If you’re not good enough to be on the team, you quit. There’s no cheating. There’s no ‘I’ll give you a treat’ in the gym. They’re all killers, they’re all beasts. If you get a chance to practice and train with them, you can always level up.”