Why Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov once expelled Islam Makhachev from his gym

Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, the late father of UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov and a revered figure in Dagestan's combat sports scene, was known for his uncompromising discipline at his gym. Among his strict rules was a mandatory short-hair policy for all athletes—a standard he enforced without exception, even for his most promising student, Islam Makhachev.

Khabib recalled an incident that exemplified his father's commitment to this principle. Abdulmanap once expelled approximately 50 fighters from the gym because they failed to meet his grooming standards. Though most left permanently, about three returned roughly 30 to 40 minutes later—Makhachev among them—with freshly cropped hair. Abdulmanap allowed them back in, recognizing their willingness to comply and viewing it as a sign of genuine dedication to training.

"There was this moment when father threw about 50 people out of the gym because of their hair, including Islam Makhachev," Khabib told UFC Eurasia. "Everyone left, and about 30-40 minutes later, three of them returned. Islam was among them too. Father saw that they had returned with haircuts and said, 'Yes, you can come in.' My father even said, 'See, they want to learn from me. So, they will get results.'"

Abdulmanap's philosophy extended beyond hair length. He believed that appearance reflected character and discipline. Rather than flashy hairstyles, he taught his fighters that true impression came from physical conditioning—a muscular neck, quality attire, and well-maintained shoes. Makhachev, who trained extensively under Abdulmanap, internalized this lesson. "He used to always say, 'If you want to impress someone with your hairstyles, that's not how it works," Makhachev recalled. "You need to have a muscular neck, a nice belt, and clean shoes.'"

This disciplinarian approach proved effective in building a pipeline of elite fighters from the Caucasus region who have risen to prominence across major MMA promotions worldwide.