Former journalist recalls Khabib's kindness after UFC 223 title win eight years ago

Azamat Bostanov, now an MMA manager, shared memories from April 7, 2018, when Khabib Nurmagomedov won the UFC lightweight title at UFC 223 in Brooklyn. Bostanov recalled how manager Ali Abdelaziz initially told him to stay away from the team after he interviewed Artem Lobov following the famous bus incident, but Khabib intervened saying "This is our guy, he's just doing his job." The account describes 20-30 Dagestanis gathering at the hotel to protect Khabib from potential Conor McGregor provocations. After the victory, Khabib took time to greet the massive crowd at his hotel despite being exhausted, allowing Bostanov to wear the championship belt for photos. The story also mentions that Zabit Magomedsharipov fought on that card with two broken fingers, keeping the injury secret from the athletic commission.