After a lengthy hospitalization in Russia, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, father of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, has reportedly died.
TASS.ru was first to report the news after word began to spread on social media earlier in the day. Head of the Chechen Republic, strongman Ramzan Kadyrov, also confirmed the news. RT Sport and other outlets soon followed.
Khabib’s manager also posted a message on Instagram, including RIP, with a black-and-white photo of father and son.
The elder Nuramgomedov was a key part of his son’s development of a fighter, as well as that of other fighters from the Dagestan region of Russia. He contributed to the training of his son and other fighters including current UFC fighter Islam Makhachev.
Word that he had contracted COVID-19 broke in May. The elder Nurmagomedov was at the time placed in a medically induced coma in hospital. He had originally been taken to hospital, and later transferred to a military hospital, after suffering symptoms of pneumonia. He also reportedly underwent heart surgery while battling the disease.
Globally, the coronavirus pandemic has seen over half a million deaths result from COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. America and Brazil have been hardest hit, but Russia has reported over a half a million infections.
