Umar Nurmagomedov

When and why did you start training for fighting? Every kid in Dagestan trains; that's how I started and that's how I came to where I am today.

What ranks and titles have you held? World amateur MMA champion, World combat sambo champion

Who is your favorite fighter and why? Usman Nurmagomedov is my favorite fighter. He is a very well-rounded fighter who wins his fights in a beautiful way. He is also my younger brother, so I’m genuinely very happy and proud of him. Of course, I support and cheer for all of my brothers, but I believe Usman is the best of them.

Do you have any heroes outside of fighting? Yes, definitely. Children, and so are the people of Palestine, are heroes to me. They continue to stand their ground and refuse to leave their homeland despite everything they have been through. They continue to stand their ground and resist genocide. Their strength and resilience make them heroes in my eyes.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It's my chance to prove that I can repeat my cousin’s success.

Is there a cause that you want to use your platform for? Yes. I want to use my platform to raise awareness about the situation in Palestine and the genocide that the Palestinian people are facing.

Beyond money or a championship, what motivates you? For me, it’s also about representing such a great team. We are one of the best teams in the world, and I want to contribute to this team's legacy and leave my own mark. That’s a big motivation for me.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? Business management degree

What was your job before you started fighting? I’ve been working with my father since I was a child. We had a farm and a garden, so I was always around my father, helping him with the work. Later, when I moved to Makhachkala, I started working as a coach. That was probably the first job where I actually earned a salary. I trained young kids, around six to twelve years old, and it was a very interesting experience. I have a lot of funny memories from that time. The kids would come in pretending to be superheroes. One would be a Ninja Turtle, another a different superhero, and then they would start wrestling with each other. It was really fun working with them.

Favorite Grappling technique: Taking the back and finishing with a rear-naked choke.

Favorite Striking technique: Probably the question mark kick. I like using it because it’s deceptive and can catch the opponent off guard.

Tell us about your life outside of fighting: Unfortunately, I don’t really have much of a life outside of fighting at the moment. I’m almost always at training camps, training, or preparing for a fight. And even when I’m not fighting myself, one of my teammates is usually fighting, so I’m either supporting them or traveling with them. Fighting is basically my whole life right now.