Russian journalist and current MMA manager Azamat Bostanov has shared memories from UFC 223 eight years ago when Khabib Nurmagomedov won the lightweight title. Bostanov recalls that manager Ali Abdel-Aziz initially forbade him from approaching the team after Bostanov interviewed Artem Lobov following the famous altercation with Khabib. However, Khabib intervened, putting his arm around Bostanov and telling Abdel-Aziz that Bostanov was "our guy" who was just doing his job. Bostanov also recounted how 20-30 Dagestanis gathered at the hotel entrance ready to confront Conor McGregor's team if they arrived, and how Khabib remained gracious despite exhaustion, taking time to greet and photograph with numerous fans in his hotel room. The journalist emphasized that Khabib remained approachable and kind even after multiple title defenses, once even offering him a ride in Moscow a year after winning the championship.
Russian journalist and MMA manager Azamat Bostanov has shared a behind-the-scenes account of the chaotic night at UFC 223 in 2018, when Khabib Nurmagomedov captured the UFC lightweight championship, describing a personal moment in which Khabib stepped in to shield him from a confrontation with manager Ali Abdel-Aziz.
Bostanov explained that after he interviewed Artem Lobov in the wake of the now-famous altercation between Lobov and Khabib, Abdel-Aziz moved to block him from getting near the team. Khabib intervened directly, placing his arm around the journalist and telling Abdel-Aziz that Bostanov was "our guy" who was simply doing his job. The gesture, Bostanov recalled, defused the situation immediately.
Khabib, who retired with a perfect 29-0 record and is now 37 years old, earned a reputation as one of the most dominant fighters in UFC history. The Dagestan-born wrestler averaged 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career, with a striking accuracy of 48 percent, and held the lightweight title through multiple defenses before walking away unbeaten.
Lobov, a 39-year-old southpaw from Ireland who competed at featherweight under the SBG Ireland banner, had a career record of 13-15-1. His involvement in the pre-fight tensions that week became one of the defining subplots of that UFC 223 weekend.
Bostanov also recalled that roughly 20 to 30 Dagestanis gathered at the hotel entrance that night, ready to confront Conor McGregor's team if they appeared. Despite the tension and his exhaustion from winning the title, Khabib reportedly spent time greeting fans and taking photographs in his hotel room. Bostanov added that Khabib's warmth continued well beyond that night, recounting that the champion once offered him a ride in Moscow a full year after claiming the belt.
Why it matters
- The account adds personal texture to one of the most turbulent weeks in UFC history surrounding the UFC 223 buildup.
- It offers a rarely seen side of Khabib's character during what was arguably the most chaotic period of his career.
- Bostanov's dual role as journalist and manager lends weight to his firsthand perspective on the inner workings of the Khabib camp.
