Khabib Nurmagomedov may have stepped aside from fighting, but he’s still heavily involved in the training of his cousin, Usman. The 17-0 star is set to make his return on September 7th after facing a 6-month suspension for a doping violation, and guess what? ‘The Eagle’ claims that we may be getting the best version of Usman Nurmagomedov.

Known to be a finisher, Usman Nurmagomedov is having quite the run in Bellator, registering four finishes in the six fights he’d had in the promotion thus far. His last fight was overturned after he tested positive for drug failure, getting handed a $50,000 fine. But as far as Khabib Nurmagomedov’s recent statement implied, the time away might have helped Usman.

Khabib Nurmagomedov warns Usman’s opponent

Six months may not be a long layoff period for a UFC fighter anymore, since some fighters often have only one match in their career. But for Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov, he had time to think and get re-focused after failing a drug test. But a lot of time has passed, and he’s now set for action once against fellow Russian fighter Alexander Shabliy, who’s remained undefeated since 2017, at the Bellator Champions Series.

However, his cousin, Khabib Nurmagomedov, isn’t worried about Usman’s next fight. ‘The Eagle’ has been with the whole Dagestani dugout since late last year and confidently claims that the lightweight champion will retain his title with the best performance of his career. “In a few days, Usman will defend his belt for the second time. He’s prepared better than ever,” the UFC Hall of Famer told ‘Red Corner MMA’.

Having a failed drug test record is not what most fighters want. Jon Jones is a perfect example to explain this because, after all his successes, some sections of the MMA community still do not hail him to be the best to ever wear a pair of gloves inside the Octagon. For Usman Nurmagomedov, things couldn’t have gotten worse since it was not just his, but the entire Dagestani camp, especially Khabib’s reputation on the line. But ahead of his fight, the 26-year-old opened up about his suspension and doubled down on his stance of not intentionally using banned substances.

Khabib’s cousin claims he failed the drug test because of a “medication”

We don’t have much information about Usman Nurmagomedov’s doping violation, and now we have the reason why. The Bellator champion claims to have agreed with the commission to keep details out of the public domain. However, the only thing he said about the banned substance was that it was a prescribed medicine. Usman believes the repercussions would have been much harsher if it was a performance-enhancing drug (PED).

“We have a deal with the California Commission, and I cannot tell the media or someone, but it was medication. If it were a steroid, they have to say, ‘This was a steroid.’ And they have to give me more time for suspension,” Usman Nurmagomedov told ‘MMA Junkie’. Well, the past is the past, and the only way he’s looking now is forward as he prepares for his second title defense.

Do you think Usman Nurmagomedov will remain the champion this weekend? Let us know in the comments down below.