UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father Abdulmanap dies as result of coronavirus

The 57-year-old, who also trained UFC lightweight champion Khabib, was first hospitalised in Dagestan in April, but then transferred to a Moscow clinic
Khabib had said a week ago his father was still in intensive care despite no longer having the virus

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

Agence France-Presse

Published: 1:11pm, 4 Jul 2020

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Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father and trainer, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, has died at 57 after contracting coronavirus.

“I’ve received sad news, friends, that Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov has left this world,” Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov announced on Telegram messenger on Friday, saying he was expressing the condolences of the “whole Chechen people”.

Abdulmanap was first hospitalised in April in his native North Caucasus region of Dagestan and was later transferred to a Moscow clinic.

Khabib, the 31-year-old UFC lightweight champion, in May urged people in Dagestan, one of the regions hardest hit by the pandemic, to be “disciplined” and “listen to our doctors”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) speaks with Khabib Nurmagomedov and his trainer and father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov in Ulyanovsk, Russia. Photo: EPA

This week he posted a picture of his tracksuited father at a training session on Instagram with the caption “Father” as followers said they were praying for his recovery.

A week ago the fighter had given an interview to Russian television, saying that his father no longer had the virus but was still in intensive care with damage to his kidneys and heart. He said he was visiting daily although his father was not able to speak to him.

Khabib was set to give a press conference on Saturday that has now been cancelled.

Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov trained numerous champions in judo and the Russian martial arts discipline sambo. He began teaching his son fighting moves from the age of three.

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