Journalist and current manager Azamat Bostanov shared memories from UFC 223 in Brooklyn eight years ago, when Khabib Nurmagomedov won his UFC title. Bostanov recounted how manager Ali Abdelaziz initially told him to stay away from the team after he interviewed Artem Lobov following the famous confrontation, but Khabib intervened, saying he was just doing his job. He described a scene where 20 to 30 Dagestanis gathered at the hotel entrance to protect Khabib from potential provocations from Conor McGregor's team. Bostanov also revealed that Zabit Magomedsharipov broke two fingers during his warm-up but fought anyway without telling officials. Despite exhaustion after winning the title, Khabib took time to greet fans, take photos, and speak with well-wishers who packed his hotel floor and room. Bostanov emphasized that Khabib remained humble and accessible even as his fame grew in subsequent years.
Journalist and manager Azamat Bostanov has shared a collection of personal memories from UFC 223 in Brooklyn, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the night Khabib Nurmagomedov captured the UFC lightweight title.
Bostanov, who covered the event as a journalist before transitioning into management, recalled a tense atmosphere surrounding Khabib's camp following the now-infamous bus attack incident. After Bostanov interviewed Artem Lobov in the wake of the confrontation, manager Ali Abdelaziz initially told him to keep his distance from the team. Khabib stepped in and dismissed the concern, telling those around him that Bostanov was simply doing his job.
Khabib Nurmagomedov, who retired with a perfect 29-0-0 record, remains one of the most dominant fighters in UFC history. The 37-year-old Russian was a relentless force on the canvas, averaging 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes with a striking accuracy of 48 percent and 4.1 significant strikes landed per minute.
Bostanov also described a striking scene outside the hotel, where between 20 and 30 Dagestanis assembled at the entrance to form a protective buffer against any potential provocations from Conor McGregor's entourage.
One of the more surprising details involved Zabit Magomedsharipov, who broke two fingers during his warm-up before his card appearance but chose to compete regardless, never informing officials. The 35-year-old Russian, who holds an 18-1-0 record, is listed at six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach and has averaged 4.89 significant strikes per minute across his career alongside 5.22 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Bostanov's account adds personal texture to one of the most chaotic events in UFC history
- The story highlights Khabib's character under pressure, greeting fans and well-wishers despite exhaustion after the title win
- Magomedsharipov's undisclosed injury reveals the hidden toll fighters absorb even before the opening bell
- Lobov, who holds a 13-15-1 record, remained a central figure in the broader drama surrounding that fight week
