Report: Father of UFC Champ Khabib Nurmagomedov ‘Improving’ in Moscow Hospital

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Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, the father of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, is making positive progress after being hospitalized in Moscow last month.

Khabib’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, revealed to ESPN that Abdulmanap is still in serious condition but has opened his eyes and is reponsive after previously falling into a coma.

"Khabib is very strong, his family is very strong and his father is very strong," Abdelaziz said. "He's improving. He opened his eyes, responding a little bit -- good sign. Allah is in control. We have faith he will be better, but at the end of the day, it's completely up to his health whether it progresses or not. But he's progressing, and we're very happy about this.”

Abdulmanap initially fell ill with pneumonia at the end of April and was transported from a medical facility in Dagestan to Moscow as a result of heart problems. Abdulmanap was reportedly diagnosed with coronavirus once he arrived in the Russian capital. Khabib later confirmed that multiple members of his family, including his father, had been affected by COVID-19.

Last month, Abdulmanap underwent a heart bypass surgery and had to be connected to a life support machine when his condition deteriorated, according to multiple reports from Russian outlets. That turn for the worse occurred after Abdulmanap had previously awakened from a coma earlier in the month.

According to Abdelaziz, Abdulmanap’s recent progression included smiling and speaking to his son. Meanwhile, Khabib is in camp preparing for a 155-pound title unificiation bout against Justin Gaethje. UFC president Dana White has targeted September fo rthe matchup, but the promotion has yet to make any kind of announcement regarding the fight.

"I think Khabib's father being sick has motivated him more," Abdelaziz said. "He's training every day, two times a day. He's in camp already. Me and him were talking and I said, 'Hey, get your mind off, do what you need to do.' He's always training. He's a true mixed martial artist. Same with Gaethje. They are both great guys and they want to fight. It's a dream fight.”