Islam Makhachev grew up watching and playing soccer. And, he is pretty passionate and competitive while playing with the teammates, be it a fun game, or a kick-about as part of training. So much so, they now want English soccer club Manchester United to sign the UFC lightweight champion.
It is a tradition in Team Khabib as well as in the AKA gym to play football matches. Islam revels in it… though he loses to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s soccer squad all the time.
The champ has taken time off from fighting, recovering from a hand injury. This means more time for soccer, and to get better at it.
Amateur soccer is about having fun and what better way to do it than to play with kids, and pick up a few skills in the process too. That’s exactly what Islam did.
However, those around recorded it, and posted it on social media. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take much time for them to go viral.
One of his teammates, PFL fighter Ibragim Ibrahomov, even tagged English soccer club Manchester United and asked them to sign the Dagestani champ.
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The North Western English club is going through a rough patch right now. They could perhaps use some of Islam’s brilliance in the upcoming derby games against Liverpool and Manchester City.
But Makhachev would definitely be happy sticking to his martial arts profession, and continue playing soccer with kids.
Islam sends teammate flying
Makhachev recently trained alongside Taekwondo world champion, Seifulla Magomedov. Given by how much he has been wanting to improve his striking, he has started working on it at a foundational level and not just as a complimentary side act to his world-class grappling.
The lightweight champion already outboxed one of the best boxers in the UFC when he took on Dustin Poirier at UFC 302. Up next, going by his training, it’s going to be some of those Taekwondo kicks.
When Magomedov prompted, the champ unleashed a strong sidekick that saw a trainer holding pads flying back, much to the amusement of the entire gym. While it can’t be ascertained if this was planned, Makhachev has a history with pranks.
There are compilation videos of the champ pranking his teammates and friends. From throwing them around in the snow to posing as housekeeping at a hotel, he likes having a good time jesting with his friends.
Not convinced? Just take a look at any video of him talking to UFC veteran Daniel Cormier.
