‘I Feel His Support’: Umar Nurmagomedov Reveals How Islam Makhachev Backed Him From Home

Islam Makhachev is coming off one of the greatest wins of his career, defeating Ian Garry at UFC 330 on August 15. Makhachev's victory snapped Anderson Silva's all-time 16-win run, bringing his total to 17 victories.

Makhachev has since returned to Dagestan, while his friend Umar will compete in an important fight this weekend. While the timing prevented Islam from being in Umar's corner, he understood and ensured that everyone else did as well. 

Umar Nurmagomedov Says Islam Makhachev Supports Him From Home

Umar Nurmagomedov will take on Song Yadong on 29 August in Shanghai, China. While the fight is in his opponent’s home country, Umar has all the support from his family and friends.

When questioned about the Islam part during a UFC press conference, Umar said, “I think he was on a long trip. It was a hard fight, and that’s why he went home. But even from home, he texts me, calls me, asks how I feel, and I feel his support. Sometimes you’re too tired with everything, and you have to rest.” 

Umar’s statement implies that a support system doesn’t require physical presence. Also, he is expected to have his cousin and coach, Khabib Nurmagomedov, in his corner for this important fight. 

Why is the Yadong Fight Important for Umar? 

After losing his battle for the UFC title against Merab Dvalishvili in 2025, Umar has been back to the drawing board. He faced deep waters in the fight and subsequently suffered his first-ever loss in pro MMA. 

Ever since then, Umar has shown drastic improvements and won two fights with total dominance. He took two unanimous decision wins against Mario Bautista in 2025 and against former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo in early 2026. 

Now that Merab Dvalishvili and champion Petr Yan are slated for a trilogy in October, the winner is more likely to compete again before the end of the year or in early 2027.

The Yadong vs. Umar bout most likely establishes a foundation for the next worthy challenger. As a result, a victory might put Umar back in ‌title contention. 

However, Umar must be exceptional since he will have a large audience against him, which might be an important factor in the fight. So it remains to be seen until the combatants enter the cage.