Islam Makhachev is the newly-crowned UFC Lightweight Champion thanks to his stunning win at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi over the weekend, and while Makhachev himself credited his friend and coach Khabib Nurmagomedov along with Nurmagomedov’s late father with the win, Khabib himself had a different person to credit: Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan.
“Thank you so much Sheikh Hamdan,” wrote Khabib on Instagram today. “The support for this training camp was amazing. You are a very big part of our success.”
He then tagged Sheikh Hamdan’s popular Instagram account, @faz3, to finish off his latest post to his 34 million-odd followers.
Khabib Nurmagomedov currently trains his team, including his long-time training partner Islam Makkhachev, out of the Hamdan Sports Complex in Dubai’s Meydan, as he has since before he retired from the UFC himself.
Saturday in Abu Dhabi was emotional for all involved, as it marked Makhachev’s first title win, a huge step for him as a fighter and for Nurmagomedov as a coach as he finds himself in the next phase in his career, after the passing of his coach father.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has also become an entrepreneur in the UAE, launching two new products: A protein bar called Fitroo by Khabib and PH TOP Alkaline Water.
Even if you’re not a fitness person the Fitroo by Khabib bar is intended to help you keep your blood sugar at a healthy level with high protein and low sugar.
Featuring a graphic of Khabib in his signature flexing pose while wearing the Russian Papakha hat, it also comes in a wide range of flavours such as chocolate, banana, cheesecake, caramel and vanilla cookies.
The bar has been produced without any GMOs such as artificial flavouring or colouring. Throughout the production process, the product is observed through an in-house laboratory to make sure that all of its ingredients are of the highest quality, according to a press statement.
As for the PH Top Alkaline Water, it is intended to keep you hydrated and to help athletes with their post workout recovery by quickly replenishing salt lost from intense exercise in addition to strengthening their immune system. It also is intended to fortify bones, provide energy and improve overall metabolism.
The products will be distributed across the UAE thanks to Khabib’s new partnership with ENOC Zooms. The company is hoping to expand into the GCC market and maybe we’ll be able to try some of Fitroo’s muesli bars, protein cookies or protein breakfast cereal at some point in the future.
Khabib graced the cover of Esquire Middle East last year, telling us in detail about his plans for the future after his UFC retirement. Read here.