The Dagestani Takeover of the UFC

Located near the Caucasus Mountains in southern Russia, Dagestan is notorious for producing some of the greatest mixed-martial arts fighters in the world. The region is a talent factory that consistently produces dominant fighters, with none showing signs of slowing down any time soon. This success is built on a foundation that has continually improved from each passing generation.

It is impossible to mention Dagestan without mentioning Khabib Nurmagomedov. Khabib, a household name at this point, is an MMA fighter regarded by many fans as the greatest UFC fighter of all time. The case for Khabib as the UFC’s GOAT often points to his incredible wrestling and grappling. However, what people fail to mention is Khabib’s tremendous level of focus. In MMA, it is easy to get “caught out.” A small lapse in focus can lead to a knockout, so it’s essential that fighters stay focused at all times. Khabib remains the only fighter in the UFC to retire with a perfect record. 

 Khabib’s influence extends a lot more than just MMA. He’s become a global icon, and is recognized by people who don’t even follow or participate in the sport. This fame can be attributed to his no-nonsense, hard-working personality, which he embodies both in and out of the cage. 

Khabib credits a lot of success to his late father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Abdulmanap is considered one of the greatest MMA coaches of all time, using his background in the Russian military as a model for his training with Khabib and other students. From an early age, Abdulmanap instilled values of hard work and discipline into Khabib, which ultimately shaped his personality as both a fighter and a person. These ideas of discipline are deeply rooted in Dagestani culture, where respect and resilience are each key virtues held in high regard. All these factors power a Dagestani factory, which produces some of the best fighters to ever exist.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, tragedy hit the region of Dagestan and the mixed-martial-arts world. Abdulmanap, due to complications related to COVID, passed away at the age of 57. In the wake of his fathers death, Khabib retired from the UFC because he promised his mother that he would retire after his father’s passing. This was a shock to many as he was just approaching the prime of his career. 

After retiring, Khabib stepped into the leadership role at his father’s gym, mentoring and coaching new and upcoming fighters. Khabib’s training sessions can be described using one word: discipline. A day with Khabib begins with a strict running session through the Dagestani mountains, followed by afternoon sessions that focus solely on martial arts training. To close out the day, Khabib’s evening sessions involve grappling and sparring. Although Khabib’s sessions are intense, he prioritizes consistency over intensity. In an interview with Rod Berger, Khabib said, “All my life I trained for four hours every day.” To Khabib, the most important aspect of training is being present every day and remaining consistent.

The upcoming UFC 311 main event features two title fights with Dagestani contenders: fighter Islam Makhachev defending his lightweight title and Umar Nurmagomedov fighting for the bantamweight belt. Both fighters work with Khabib, with Islam sitting at number one in the pound-for-pound UFC rankings, meaning he’s regarded as the UFC’s best fighter. A win for Islam could launch him into the GOAT debate, with Islam holding a respectable 25-1 record, while a win for Umar shows a continuation of Dagestan’s dominance in the next generation of fighters. 

Nevertheless, with the strong foundation present, Dagestan’s dominance over the UFC is sure to continue. A region that is built on values of discipline and hard work fits perfectly with the UFC, and with 311 fast approaching, Dagestani influence will be sure to continue shaping the future of martial arts as a whole.