Nurmagomedov defended journalist from Abdel-Aziz at UFC 223

Azamat Bostanov, now a fighter manager, recalled his experience covering Khabib Nurmagomedov's championship victory at UFC 223 in Brooklyn eight years ago. After Bostanov interviewed Artem Lobov following the famous confrontation with Khabib, manager Ali Abdel-Aziz emotionally told him not to approach their team. However, Nurmagomedov intervened, putting his arm around Bostanov and telling Abdel-Aziz that he was their guy just doing his job. Bostanov also remembered how 20-30 Dagestanis gathered at the hotel entrance when word spread that Conor McGregor's team might arrive, positioning themselves to prevent any provocations against Khabib. After the victory, despite being exhausted, Nurmagomedov took time to meet with the crowd, allowed Bostanov to wear his championship belt for a photo, and patiently interacted with numerous people in his hotel room, including strangers who wanted video calls with friends and family. Bostanov emphasized that even as Nurmagomedov's fame grew through subsequent title defenses, he remained consistently friendly and approachable.