In perhaps the most shocking news of 2017, serial Tiramisu eater Khabib Nurmagomedov made weight for UFC 219. What were the chances of this happening?
It’s been a rough year for UFC lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov, and he hasn’t even competed yet. Originally scheduled to face Tony Ferguson for the interim title at UFC 209, ‘The Eagle’ was pulled from the bout n weigh-ins day.
This marked the fourth time Khabib vs. Ferguson had been canceled, and even more frustrating was the fact Conor McGregor was absent with the 155-pound title. Nurmagomedov’s struggles with weight and injuries meant he’d only fought four times in as many years.
The cautionary tale of Nurmagomedov’s weight steadily became a running joke. After he admitted to eating Tiramisu on the week of UFC 209, ‘The Eagle’ basically cemented himself as a living meme.
Currently booked to fight Edson Barboza at UFC 219 tomorrow, Nurmagomedov hit the scales at the weigh-in show today.
UFC 219 Weigh-In Results
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
Champ Cris Cyborg (145) vs. Holly Holm (144) – for women’s featherweight title
Edson Barboza (155) vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov (155.5)
Marc Diakiese (155.5) vs. Dan Hooker (155.5)
Cynthia Calvillo (116) vs. Carla Esparza (115.5)
Carlos Condit (170.5) vs. Neil Magny (170.5)
PRELIMINARY CARD (FS1, 8 p.m. ET)
Michal Oleksiejczuk (203.5) vs. Khalil Rountree (205)
Rick Glenn (145.5) vs. Myles Jury (146)
Omari Akhmedov (185.5) vs. Marvin Vettori (185.5)
Matheus Nicolau (125.5) vs. Louis Smolka (125.5)
PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 7:30 p.m. ET)
Mark De La Rosa (135.5) vs. Tim Elliott (135)
Khabib’s Nutritionist Speaks Weight, Lessons
As per MMAFighting.com, Nurmagomedov’s nutritionist says the team has learned some valuable lessons in 2017:
But I know that sometimes one of the best things that could ever happen to a fighter for the rest of his career is to miss weight like that one time. These guys that are always so close, or they’re right on the verge — miss weight for an important fight and that’s the best thing that could ever happen to you.
He came in a little bit lighter this time, he took it more serious. So I was handed a much more determined and strict athlete, so it made my job a lot easier that he was already coming into this with the fear from [UFC 209].
No, he’s super coachable. Very coachable. And that was one thing you always worry about. That’s a nutritionist or any coach’s worst nightmare, is a guy who’s just stuck in their ways. And Khabib had all the positive risk factors for someone who was going to be difficult to work with. He’s had issues before making weight.
Coachable
There’s a communication barrier because of different cultures, different languages — which, he speaks English, and very good, but there’s that communication barrier a little bit. He’s, what, 24-0 doing it the way he’s done it? I mean, a guy who’s had that much success doing things, sometimes it’s like, ‘Man, what am I going to be able to tell them?’
But immediately — I mean, if he has a question, he asks me. If someone asks him about something, he looks at me and wants me to answer. Super easy. He talks to me, texts me, calls me. If I’m not around, he’s texting and calling me constantly, saying this is what’s going on or asking what’s next. So he’s been super coachable and super in-tune to the process.
