Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father and longtime mentor, Abdulmanap, passed away in a Moscow hospital on Friday following complications caused by the coronavirus infection.
The news was first announced by Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov, who posted his condolences on his Telegram social media page.
“Sad news reached me, friends, that Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov left this world. I sincerely condole the whole Chechen people to the family of Abdulmanap Magomedovich! He left us, leaving behind a good name and raising a worthy generation,” Kadyrov wrote on his Telegram channel .
Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, 57, was transported from his native Dagestan to a military hospital in Moscow in April after falling ill with pneumonia and flu-like symptoms, which was later confirmed to be COVID-19. As his condition worsened, the renowned coach suffered a stroke and underwent surgery before being placed in a medically induced coma.
Despite reports that there were signs of recovery, including from Khabib himself, Abdulmanap’s condition was deemed “too serious.”
“Abdulmanap suffered two strokes, in his heart [a heart attack] and brain,” family friend Ramazan Rabadanov told Russian outlet Championat. “They managed to treat his heart, but not his brain, so he didn’t emerge from a coma. The situation was too serious, it was already too late. The doctors did everything they could, they even tried to connect him with the president [Putin], but his condition was too serious.”
Abdulmanap will be buried in the village of Kirovaul, Dagestan, where he grew up and went to school. However, due to coronavirus concerns, the burial will be a low-key affair for family and close relatives.
“Relatives have already arrived in the village, everyone has already gathered, of course more people will still gather,” said local leader Ilyas Khaziev.
Several notable figures within the MMA landscape have already shared tributes to the renowned coach, including Cornor McGregor’s coach, John Kavanagh.
“Very sorry to hear of the passing of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov,” said Kavanagh. “A genius of combat sports and absolute inspiration to so many up and coming fighters.
Apart from being Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father, Abdulmanap is also a celebrated coach and a longtime mentor for his son and a host of other Dagestani athletes. He is considered the patriarch of the Nurmagomedov family and an essential member of the UFC’s champion’s team.
To learn more about Abdulmanap, including his history of combating extremism in Dagestan through sports, read Karim Zidan’s longform on the celebrated coach titled ‘Dagestani Dynasty.’
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