Habib Nurmagomedov welcomed journalist despite manager's objections after UFC 223

Azamat Bostanov, now a fighter manager, recalled his experience as a journalist covering Habib Nurmagomedov's UFC 223 title win in Brooklyn eight years ago. After Bostanov interviewed Artem Lobov following the famous bus incident, manager Ali Abdelaziz told him not to approach their team. However, Nurmagomedov overruled his manager, putting his arm around Bostanov and saying "This is our guy, he's just doing his job." Bostanov also recalled the tense atmosphere with 20-30 Dagestanis gathering at the hotel to protect Nurmagomedov from potential Conor McGregor provocations. Despite being exhausted after winning the title, Nurmagomedov took time to photograph with fans, talk to strangers in his room, and even offered Bostanov a ride a year later when spotting him on the street. The account illustrates Nurmagomedov's consistent graciousness even amid intense rivalry and championship pressure.