Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father and longtime coach, Abdulmanap, was a big Jon Jones fan.
UFC Hall of Famer Jon Jones brought his fighting career to an abrupt end last weekend when he announced his retirement on social media. Tom Aspinall, the UFC’s interim titleholder, was promoted to undisputed heavyweight champion after the Jones news broke.
Jones’s retirement came after months of speculation over a potential superfight with Aspinall for the unified heavyweight championship. But for now, a potential Jones vs. Aspinall clash is firmly off the table.
Before making the full-time move to heavyweight, Jones made himself into a UFC legend during his multiple light heavyweight title reigns. Jones is arguably the greatest fighter to ever step foot in the Octagon, and for another legend’s father, he surpassed his son’s accolades.
Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov compared Jon Jones to ‘God’ years before tragic death
Khabib Nurmagomedov sits alongside Jones, Georges St-Pierre, and others when discussing the all-time greatest UFC combatants. But his rise wouldn’t be complete without his father being by his side preparing for showdowns with the likes of Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier.
Nurmagomedov’s father was a big fan of Jones’s skillset and fighting career, and pointed to the UFC legend as a textbook case of divine intervention.
In a 2016 interview with Red Corner MMA, Khabib’s father, Abdulmanap, blanketed Jones with praise and predicted his heavyweight success.
“Jon Jones got his talent from God, not Greg Jackson,” Nurmagomedov said.
“Greg Jackson is a good striking coach, but don’t confuse things. Jon Jones is Number 1 out of all the fighters. Maybe not in terms of behavior, the law, or other things…
“But I’m confident he’d wipe out the Top 5 heavyweights.”
While Jones wiped out just two heavyweights, including Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November, Jones showcased the abilities that Abdulmanap projected in 2016. Jones won the then-vacant heavyweight title by submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285.
Nurmagomedov’s longtime friendship with Jones’s biggest rival, Daniel Cormier, led to some tensions between the two legends. But Jones’s retirement prompted Nurmagomedov to congratulate him on his accomplishments.
Khabib Nurmagomedov sent a classy message to Jon Jones after retirement announcement
Nurmagomedov sent a message to Jones in a recent Instagram story post.
“My congratulations legend, even though we were not friends but you are the best to ever do it in UFC history and you inspire millions of people around the world. You have nothing more to prove in this sport,” Nurmagomedov said.
Nurmagomedov retired after defeating Gaethje at UFC 254, just months after the tragic death of his father Abdulmanap. He entered the UFC Hall of Fame in 2022.
Jones and Nurmagomedov’s careers will always be talked about in the same breath when comparing the all-time greats. But while Jones’s heavyweight success might’ve surprised some fans, Nurmagomedov’s late father predicted it ten-fold.
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