AKA Thailand Owner Reveals Why Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Father Never Allowed Fighters To Train in Phuket
American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) Thailand’s founder and owner, Mike Swick, recently revealed that Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father and coach, the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, never allowed any of his fighters to train in Thailand.
Abdulmanap did not allow his fighters to train in Thailand because of the potential distractions. Swick said that Khabib, Islam Makhachev, and the latter’s teammates have never visited AKA Thailand to train. However, he hopes ‘The Eagle’ will come to his gym someday. Mike Swick told Red Corner MMA:
“Khabib’s father always had an issue with coming to Thailand because of the distractions, so I don’t think Khabib’s ever going to come, and probably Islam and the close guys with Khabib.”
Check out Mike Swick’s comments below:
UFC two-division champion Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, is the founder of American Kickboxing Academy, based in San Jose, California. The training camp expanded internationally with the opening of AKA Thailand in 2014 by UFC veteran Mike Swick.
Several notable fighters train under the AKA banner, including Islam Makhachev, Umar Nurmagomedov, and Usman Nurmagomedov, among others.
The gym has also produced legendary UFC champs, including Luke Rockhold, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier, and Cain Velasquez, among many others.
Mike Swick Labels Islam Makhachev as Khabib Nurmagomedov’s toughest training partner
Mike Swick also revealed during the same interview with Red Corner MMA that Islam Makhachev has given Khabib Nurmagomedov the hardest time as a training partner. Swick lauded Makhachev’s accomplishments in the octagon and how the latter lived up to every expectation Swick had about Makhachev. ‘Quick’ added:
“Islam impressed me from the beginning. He always gave Khabib the hardest time in the gym, so I knew he was going to be right after Khabib… I didn’t think he [Islam] was going to become pound-for-pound so fast… Islam lived up to every expectation I had and more.”
Check out Mike Swick’s comments below:
