During a training session with podcaster Lex Fridman, retired UFC champion and MMA icon Khabib Nurmagomedov opened up about his approach to training and what drives him to maintain such intensity even after retirement.
“I want to show him a little bit, like pressure,” Khabib explained after putting Fridman through multiple rounds. “Scramble after scramble, scramble after scramble, and I put him in my position.”
When Fridman asked if anyone had ever imposed that same psychological pressure on Khabib, the champion’s denied it. “With me, no,” he said. “Since when I was 18, 19, I was always against high level guys. Because in my gym, I have always high level guys. This is how I grew up.”
Ali, who has known Khabib for over a decade, confirmed this dominance: “I learned 12 years. This is true. I have never seen anyone pass his guard or tap him.”
Khabib described his training sessions: “Sometimes we’ll go 1.5 hour nonstop. Maybe changing four or five opponents. 10-15 minutes, another guy, 10-15 minutes.”
When asked what happens mentally during these marathon sessions, Khabib responded: “In my mind, I was like, thinking how somebody can make me tired.”
The conversation touched on wrestling legend Dan Gable, who Khabib recognized immediately. When Fridman mentioned Gable’s practice philosophy of pushing until he quits, Khabib connected: “That’s why he’s the best. He’s Olympic champion.”
Khabib then revealed he had just returned from a training camp in Dubai with 25 high-level wrestlers.
He stated: “I have training camp in Dubai. I have 25 people. Every day I go, morning and night, and all are champions. Big, big names.”
When Fridman asked him how he felt training so much, Khabib replied: “I love it. My body is very good. My body feel very good.”
Khabib went on to talk about missing his training sessions while travelling. He stated: “Sometime when I travel for one week, I feel so bad because I can only run and lift because there is no sparring partner. And I miss it so much.”
When Fridman noted he could tell Khabib still loves training, the retired champion confirmed without hesitation: “I love it.”
