![Khabib Nurmagomedov (left) and Islam Makhachev (right) are childhood friends [Image courtesy: Getty]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2025/01/689c8-17370404981347-1920.jpg)
![Khabib Nurmagomedov (left) and Islam Makhachev (right) are childhood friends [Image courtesy: Getty]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Former UFC lightweight king Khabib Nurmagomedov is known to be quite supportive of his friends and teammates. One such incident occurred when years ago, Nurmagomedov and his childhood friend Islam Makhachev were part of a press conference.
During the press conference, a majority of the questions were being directed to 'The Eagle'. This led to the 36-year-old turning to Makhachev and asking him a question.
"I have a question for Islam too. How would you like the next year to work out? And which guys do you want to fight at the beginning, middle and end of the year? As a big fan of yours, I have this question."
Trending
Makhachev responded:
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
"I don't even know. I want to fight. I'm on a six-fight win streak. Nobody from top 10 wants to fight me. No one accepts a fight. At this point, I'm thinking about calling out Khabib myself."
Check out a clip of the moment below:
Several MMA fans took notice of the video on X and shared their reactions in the comments.
One individual hailed Nurmagomedov as 'special' for his heartwarming gesture, writing:
"Khabib too special."
Another person opined that 'The Eagle' takes care of his own people and commented:
"Khabib the best to his brothers, got outta the spotlight for Islam."
One user opined that Nurmagomedov helped lift up Makhachev's spirit at the press conference, writing:
"Islam really showed his emotions. He was really sad no one asked him questions. Khabib is a real friend."
Check out a compilation of some of the reactions below:
Khabib Nurmagomedov will be in Islam Makhachev's corner at UFC 311
Khabib Nurmagomedov will seemingly have a hectic night at UFC 311. 'The Eagle' will be a part of Islam Makhachev's corner in the main event championship bout against Arman Tsarukyan.
The 36-year-old will also be present in Umar Nurmagomedov's corner in his title fight against Merab Dvalishvili in the co-main event of UFC 311. The fight card will take place on January 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
