Tagir Ulanbekov reflects on his early career under Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, a legendary figure in Russian MMA. Joining Nurmagomedov's gym in 2006, Ulanbekov was faced with a stern demand from Abdulmanap to cut his long hair. He complied and believes this moment symbolized his commitment to the sport. Ulanbekov is currently enjoying a three-fight winning streak, showcasing his talent with two exciting finishes. Ahead, he looks to continue his success against former UFC fighter Kyoji Horiguchi at UFC Baku, highlighting his development as a fighter under Nurmagomedov's influence.
"So we're in the gym, I had longer hair back then. Both me and one of my cousins. So he looked at us and said, 'You two, where are you from?' And I said, 'We came here to train.' He took my hair like this [grabbed] pulled me out of the line-up and said, 'I'll grab your hair and throw a knee. Cut it off by the next training session. In this gym I have the longest hair.' I believe I made an informed choice then. Cut my hair off and came back to the gym."
"Ulanbekov is on a three-fight winning streak with two finishes. Ulanbekov is set to face former UFC fighter and two-division Rizin champ Kyoji Horiguchi, who returns for his second stint at UFC Baku on June 21 at the Baku Crystal Hall."
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