For UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, everything in his fight camp must be absolutely perfect.
The Dagestani grappler has been training in New Jersey for his upcoming battle with Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in a bespoke fight camp. The likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Belal Muhammad have joined him for an intensive few weeks of preparation.
And the lightweight champion is leaving no stone unturned ahead of the fight. He’s even making very particular demands in the kitchen as his manager prepares important dishes.
Islam Makhachev’s strange demand to manager ahead of meal prep
As an elite athlete, Makhachev has to make sure that every inch of his preparations for fights is perfect from the gym to the kitchen. And he has made a series of rules that must be followed before his meals are cooked.
In the first episode of the UFC’s Embedded series for this week, manager Ali Abdelaziz told of how he must have a shower before getting to work on cooking duties. “The champ, he eats everything measured,” Abdelaziz told cameras.
“He doesn’t eat oil, and he makes me take a shower before I cook for him because I have to be super clean.”
Islam Makhachev mocks manager over fight camp cooking
When teammate Khabib Nurmagomedov was asked about how he ranks Abdelaziz’s cooking out of five, he replied that it’s a 4.5. Makhachev, on the other hand, was not so complimentary, noting that most of the food was already prepared.
“He’s not cooking he just fries and mashes it all up,” Makhachev noted in a joking tone, before putting his finger to his mouth to indicate that they must shush. “Somebody cooked it already!”
When asked how he feels about Nurmagomedov’s assessment, Abdelaziz expressed his delight telling the cameras: “Out of five I’m a four-and-a-half cook? Okay, that’s not bad, I’m okay with this.”
Makhachev then noted how the team are more than just sparring partners and fight camp teammates, but in fact have a closer bond. “We are all brothers,” he said. “It gives you some good energy.”
Islam Makhachev details the importance of prayer ahead of UFC 302
Another key scene in the Makhachev camp sees the team all praying together. They are all Muslims and dedicate five portions of their day to prayer, which is done in a team setting just like the rest of their routine.
“In our religion nobody, nothing can help you,” Makhachev explained. “Number one is pray. All success from Allah. We believe this and we follow this.”
Both Makhachev and Nurmagomedov have held lightweight gold in the UFC. And they have attributed their wins to their faith on a number of occasions.