Khabib Nurmagomedov reveals he’s ‘coming to England’ to watch Man Utd & Liverpool after UFC 254 clash vs Justin Gaethje
KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV is planning on coming to England to watch Manchester United and Liverpool after knocking out Justin Gaethje.
He heads into the scrap as favourite as he looks to stretch his undefeated record to 29 wins.
And despite the ongoing pandemic, the 32-year-old is already making plans to celebrate his success next month.
A huge football fan, Khabib revealed he wants to watch the Premier League’s big-hitters in action.
Speaking to BT Sport, he said: “I am going to come to England. After this fight, I am going to travel a lot.
“I really want to watch a lot of games – Manchester [United], Liverpool, Manchester City.
“I know they have big stadiums and a lot of history.
“I really want to come in November, when they have a great match.”
Khabib was referring to Man City’s mouthwatering clash with title holders Liverpool on November 8.
The lightweight champ admitted he dreamed of becoming a footballer as a child and prefers the sport to MMA.
His passion saw him meet up with Cristiano Ronaldo where he picked his brain on the keys to success as an elite athlete.
He told UFC Russia: “When I met Cristiano, I had so many questions to ask. I wanted to know how he was able to maintain his desire to be the best for 17 years straight.
“Since 2003 he has been at the highest level and every time at the end of the season he is in the top-ten players ranking list.
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“Moreover, he was the best for seven or eight years straight in Europe and in the world. He won the Golden Ball five times, won the Champions League five times.
“He won everything while he was in Manchester United and Real Madrid. Two world class football leagues. He won everything.
“I was wondering how he managed to achieve it. As far as I understand it, his internal energy, desire, motivation, discipline, recovery techniques, regime, nutrition – he combines all of it.
“For me, football is the number one sport.
“When I was a child, I dreamed of being a football player and I have always watched football.
“In a way, football is better [than mixed martial arts], you don’t have to fight or smash somebody – you just go onto grass and show everyone what you are capable of doing professionally.
“Of course, it is hard but I like it more, more than UFC, more than MMA.”