‘Khabib will come again’: UFC legend Bruce Buffer explains why Russian star Nurmagomedov wants ‘eye of the tiger’ to return (VIDEO)

UFC octagon announcer Bruce Buffer has spoken about his relationship with Khabib Nurmagomedov and his late father, predicting that the light-weight champion will return if he’s motivated like iconic movie character Rocky Balboa.

After 25 years because the voice of the UFC, it’s exhausting to think about an evening below the lights with out the flamboyant, cinematic showmanship of Buffer.

From brightly burning prospect to the person to beat – and Buffer considers each classes of fighter to be simply as worthy and in want of his inimitable introductions – Nurmagomedov’s fights have had no less than one different fixed, in addition to his hand raised on the finish of them.

Buffer has watched on whereas the Russian and the likes of Conor McGregor have reworked the UFC from a distinct segment curiosity to a mainstream sport.

First time we noticed Bruce Buffer pic.twitter.com/GbTEVSEP21

— MMA Gone Wild🥋 (@mmagonewild) April 23, 2020

That explosive progress has allowed the person who invented his immortal catchphrase, “it is time”, to hone his MC abilities on a much more frequent foundation than he did when UFC occasions solely passed off thrice a yr in the beginning of his time with the promotion.

Now a beloved veteran and as a lot part of the material of the game because the canvas on which its stars scrap, Buffer affords a convincing appraisal of Nurmagomedov among the many large variety of fighters he speaks fondly of.

“Khabib’s a person of honor,” Buffer mentioned when requested about his experiences with the unbeaten Nurmagomedov, chatting with RT Sport of his pleasure at turning into so conversant in a reputation that many announcers might need been left tongue-tied by when initially studying its pronunciation.

“I like Khabib lots. We get alongside very well, I favored his dad lots.

“Khabib is the kind of fighter who must be lifted. He wants an opponent that’s going to carry him, that’s going to make him wish to go practice and do what he does and go do the Rocky V mountain snow climbs and every thing else whereas music is enjoying in his ears.”

Beginner psychologists aiming to think about how negotiations between UFC president Dana White and Nurmagomedov are going would do effectively to ask Buffer for his ideas.

Few males have had such an intimate perception into the profession progressions of each males. Buffer describes White as a “maverick” and admires the bullish businessman’s continued ardour – a phrase he by no means shies away from utilizing to outline his personal strategy and one of many key sources of his success.

Nurmagomedov may have shared the highlight with Buffer for the final time when he beat Justin Gaethje in Abu Dhabi final October, sending shockwaves shuddering via the UFC by declaring his retirement afterwards.

Buffer believes that the passing of Nurmagomedov’s inspirational father, Abdulmanap, performed a pivotal half in an announcement that he feels was removed from remaining.

“I do assume that Khabib will come again,” he mentioned. “There’s a purpose why he was on the level the place he was at.

“There’s lots occurring in his life, you realize? You make choices which are emotional on the time, and also you sit again and also you make a extra comparatively considerate determination in a while, when you analyze every thing. All of us have a proper to vary our minds.”

Nurmagomedov’s one-time arch-rival, Conor McGregor, is arguably the headliner who has been most open about the way in which that huge wealth can change and problem a fighter, most of whom have come from humble beginnings and labored relentlessly to succeed in the highest of a brutal calling.

“Conor Mcgregor’s a showman, no query,” Buffer mentioned. “There are factors in [fighters’] careers the place they’ve a lot cash, and that’s why it’s fascinating to see Conor come again, with the hundred-plus million that he’s price, I assume.”

Grounded in advertising and marketing and enterprise – he says his model with brother and fellow saying luminary Michael is price half a billion  – Buffer thinks the long run for McGregor can also be an energetic one regardless of his defeat to Dustin Poirier final month.

“He’s positively one of many greatest attracts, a celebrity. You’ll be able to nonetheless keep your success and picture in defeat.

“It’s all about the way you deal with your self. The essential factor could be for him to get in there within the subsequent three-to-five months and battle once more.”

With McGregor wanting considerably wanting the sensational kind he would require to tempt Nurmagomedov to battle him once more, former welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre is the runaway favourite to offer the Dagestani’s opponent ought to he finish his retirement, not least due to Nurmagomedov’s professed admiration for the Canadian nice.

Buffer sees parallels between their potential causes for returning. “Georges St-Pierre is one other fighter that must be lifted,” he asserted.

“Khabib has obtained to be price tens of hundreds of thousands of by now, so that you want motivation. Are they as hungry as they was? In all probability not. Are they fighters, as they all the time have been at coronary heart? Sure they’re.

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“[It’s a case of] ‘give me the motivation in order that the fighter comes out and I can do what I’m presupposed to do and be who I’m – Khabib Nurmagomedov.’

“That’s what I feel it’s with Khabib, he wants that problem. He must step as much as a problem to present him that eye of the tiger feeling.”

The prospect of Nurmagomedov discovering that want is unsure for a shrewd operator who is just not consumed by the rewards of fame and adulation, however there’s higher information for followers of one other UFC icon.

Buffer expects to spend no less than one other ten years doing what he loves. If he targets a 30th win, Nurmagomedov will stroll out to be greeted by a determine whose assuredness about his unfinished enterprise may have been justified.

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