Chopurov said Nurmagomedov’s discipline motivated him as a teenager. He later traveled to a training camp in Dagestan with Khabib’s father, the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.
Asaf Chopurov credits Khabib Nurmagomedov and recalls Abdulmanap’s Dagestan camp ahead of UFC 333 debut
Chopurov intends to make his own
Ultimate Fighting Championship debut against Colby thickness at
UFC 333 On October 24 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Before the match, he discussed what inspired him to get into MMA.
“When I was 14-15 years old, I saw Khabib Nurmagomedov and how disciplined he was,” Chopurov told Ariel Helwani. “Then I also went to Dagestan and did a training camp with Abdulmanap and that was a very good motivation for me. After that I just enjoyed fighting. That’s why I’m here.”
Chopurov (11-0) on defense UAE Warriors bantamweight title twice before signing with the UFC in September. The undefeated Azerbaijani also trains with the UFC bantamweight champion Peter Yan.
Chopurov has 10 of 11 professional wins, including the last five. Thickness (9-1) has two wins after his only career loss Alexander Topuria last year.
Asaf Chopurov reflects on coaching the legendary Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov in Dagestan: “When I was 14-15 years old, the first fighter I saw was Khabib Nurmagomedov and how disciplined he was. Then I went to Dagestan and did a training camp with Abdulmanap and that was a very good motivation for me. After that I just enjoyed the fight. That’s why I’m here.”
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani)
14 October 2026
