UFC 311 is perhaps the most important fight of Islam Makhachev‘s career as he’s on his way to surpassing his legendary mentor. Khabib Nurmagomedov has been training the Dagestani ace for his fourth title defense at 155lbs against Arman Tsarukyan, but guess what? It seems like ‘The Eagle’ may have departed Makhachev’s camp as one of the lightweight champion’s teammates made a concerning revelation.

Just recently, Makhachev revealed that Nurmagomedov wasn’t there at his recent training session, which is an unexpected situation. Given that ‘The Eagle’ has two of his teammates fighting for the title at UFC 311, most would hope he’d be there in the corner. However, Makhachev’s teammate and ACA middleweight champion Magomedrasul Gasanov claims that the 29-0 legend had been absent in more than one training session, which has made their gym sessions much easier.

“Khabib wasn’t there at these last training camps. At the previous ones, he drove us really hard. He joined in himself, he worked with us together, he stood in pairs, he wrestled,” Islam Makhachev’s teammate told ‘Ushatayka’. “Khabib, let’s say, is like a crazy person – he drives us so specifically. When he shows up at a training camp, many people there lose their spirits. He stands at all the training sessions.” (Translated via Instagram)

Moreover, Khabib Nurmagomedov recently expressed some level of disappointment in footage from Islam Makhachev’s training session. Could that be an issue that made ‘The Eagle’ decide to leave the camp? While doubts are popping up in the lightweight champion’s camp, the title contender is doing all he can to get the belt and his redemption against Makhachev. In fact, rumors claim that Arman Tsarukyan has taken some help from arguably the most iconic Russian fighter ever.

Arman Tsarukyan trains with ‘The Last Emperor’ for the Islam Makhachev fight

While Khabib Nurmagomedov is considered the most successful Russian fighter in the UFC, there is another name that’s been synonymous with Russian MMA when the sport was in its infancy. If you’re wondering who could that be, it’s none other than the legendary Fedor Emelianenko, who has one of the most impressive MMA records ever – 40 wins at the expense of 7 losses, and Arman Tsarukyan was recently seen training with ‘The Last Emperor’ on social media.

Emelianenko retired just last year after more than two decades of competing at the highest level and collecting championship titles in promotions other than the UFC. Even Nurmagomedov hailed him as a legend, whom he first saw in a fight in 2004. “I’m impressed by his courage, heart, and unbreakable spirit. Yes, years take their tolls, but they can’t take away your courage,” ‘The Eagle’ said about Emelianenko in 2016.

Could the Russian legend be bestowing the same courage and spirit to Tsarukyan for his UFC 311 fight against Islam Makhachev? That remains to be seen. Khabib’s absence from his protege’s corner almost cost him the title back at UFC 284, and there’s a chance that it could happen again. However, we don’t know if he’ll be absent this time as well as of now. Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below.