DWCS fighter touches on training experience with Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov

Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov are among the most respected fighters in UFC history. More importantly, their intense training is regarded as second to none. So, it comes as no surprise that Nick Galanti, who is set for a Dana White's Contender Series fight with Carlos Petruzzella on Aug. 25, sought to train with them. However, what he learned from his experience surprised him.

Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov are funner than they seem

While Islam Makhachev is well-known for his understated sense of humor, Khabib Nurmagomedov comes across as far more serious. However, when Nick Galanti spoke to Jake Noecker on Home of Fight, he revealed, when asked for his experience, that he had more fun than he had expected. It was not, however, Galanti's first time crossing paths with the Dagestani camp (18:42):

"It's cool, bro. They're definitely coming out of their shell a lot more to us now. Everyrone thinks they're, like, so serious. Like, they do have fun, bro. You know, what I mean? They mess around."

Galanti is currently 7-1 in MMA. Meanwhile, his scheduled middleweight opponent Carlos Petruzzella is significantly more experienced at 15-1. Both men are aiming to make their way into the UFC, but Galanti's work with Makhachev and Nurmagomedov could go a long way in providing him with a competitive edge. Makhachev himself is currently training for his first-ever welterweight title defense, as he takes on Ian Machado Garry in the main event of UFC 330. A win would elevate Makhachev into even more historic territory, as it would be his 17th consecutive win, which would be the longest-ever UFC win streak.

By contrast, Nurmagomedov retired back in 2020 after submitting Justin Gaethje in round two at UFC 254, successfully defending his lightweight title. At 29-0, he is the only high-profile UFC fighter to retire undefeated, and did so following three consecutive wins over elite fighters in not only Gaethje, but Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier at UFC 229 and UFC 242 respectively. Despite Dana White's best attempts to convince Nurmagomedov to return for a big money rematch with McGregor, Nurmagomedov never budged from his decision, and has since become an almost mythical figure in the sport.