UFC 302 is just a few hours away, and the fans are eagerly waiting for the event. The event marks the return of current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev after UFC 294. Makhachev will be defending his title against an in-form Dustin Poirier. The pair will be locking horns against each other for the first time in their career, which makes the battle even more interesting.

Another talking point of the night will be the presence of Khabib Nurmagomedov. ‘The Eagle’ has played a huge role in the development of Makhachev as a fighter and despite retiring from MMA has decided to be in the 32-year-old’s corner at UFC 302. For Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev is no less than a family and the two fighters reflected on their brotherly bond in a UFC video two years back.

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev’s bond is second to none

Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from the sport in 2020 with a perfect record of 29-0 in his career. Since retiring from MMA, ‘The Eagle’ shifted his focus towards coaching and had always regarded Makhachev very highly. The current champion always had the talent, and he is now living up to the hype, much to the credit of the former champion. The 32-year-old reflected on his bond with Khabib in 2022 in a video uploaded on UFC’s official YouTube channel, “I met Khabib and his father. We went to the same school as Khabib and they live very close to the school. I know Khabib’s training with his father all this time. And I wanted to see where he’s training and who his coaches and I went to the same gym training there.”

He further revealed how intense the training sessions were under the guidance of Nurmagomedov. Despite being retired from the sport, ‘The Eagle’ took time to train all five fighters under him. Makhachev also mentioned how the 35-year-old rented a flat and took care of everything. Talking about respect, even Nurmagomedov holds the same respect for Makhachev. In the same video, he said, “In our life, we always have, like some people we know them. We have like friends and we have friends. We become like family. You know Islam and like a couple more guys, they become like my family. We’re more than family, you know.”

Nurmagomedov’s return is a blessing in disguise for Makhachev. The former champion did face Dustin Poirier during his fighting days and defeated him. However, the 29-0 fighter was absent from the last two fights of Makhachev. But this time, he doesn’t want to let go of the chance to witness history.

‘The Eagle’ shares the exact reason for returning to the Octagon at UFC 302

After staying away for more than a year, ‘The Eagle’ is finally making a return to the Octagon. ‘The Eagle’ missed two of Makhachev’s fights at UFC 284 and UFC 294. However, this time round, he is determined to see his protégé create history from close quarters. Nurmagomedov signed off from all duties to spend some time with his family members but has returned to UFC 302 now. The 35-year-old surprised everyone with his comeback and he finally shared the reason.

Makhachev will be taking on Dustin Poirier for what could be a tough encounter for the Dagestani. ‘The Eagle’ wants to share his expertise with him. In a recent YouTube video on his channel he said, “Historic fights are ahead and in the next one and a half, two, three months, I would rather be nearby [Makhachev] than later regret and think, ‘If I had been there, it would have been different,” 

He further shared how he has been in touch with most of his fighters and has helped them in their training. Makhachev is without a doubt one of the most complete fighters in the division. Now the 32-year-old has the experience of the former champion, which gives him a slight advantage in the battle.

Will Islam Makhachev defeat Dustin Poirier at UFC 302? Let us know your predictions in the comments below.