Khabib Nurmagomedov's Camp Feud Ends as Petr Yan Trains at His Base Ahead of UFC 333

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s influence on the UFC’s bantamweight title picture is direct and physical this week. Reigning champion Petr Yan is conducting his final training camp at Nurmagomedov’s elite facility in Kislovodsk, Russia, ahead of his trilogy defense against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333. This move comes despite a history of tension between Yan and members of Khabib’s camp.

Petr Yan isolates at Khabib’s Russian training base

Yan confirmed his camp is taking place at the Yug Sport Olympic training base, a facility long associated with Nurmagomedov and his team. “This is a sports training base with all the infrastructure for achieving results,” Yan said in a UFC 333 countdown video. He is working with coach Kairat Nurmaganbetov and trusted sparring partners like Asaf Chopurov and Kurban Gadzhiev, the latter having been part of Yan’s preparation for his previous fight with Dvalishvili. The camp will also relocate to Dubai later in the process, blending seclusion with world-class resources.

Merab Dvalishvili ends feud with Khabib's camp

The man aiming to dethrone Yan, Merab Dvalishvili, has publicly ended his long-running feud with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s camp. Dvalishvili did so succinctly, using just five words according to a recent report, though the exact phrasing was not disclosed. This de-escalation removes a layer of personal animosity from the upcoming title fight, allowing the focus to remain squarely on the athletic contest at UFC 333. Dvalishvili has already begun discussing potential opponents for after the event.

Henry Cejudo discredits Khabib's wrestling credentials

Former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo has reignited a debate about the foundation of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s legendary skills. Cejudo, an Olympic gold medalist in wrestling, claimed that Nurmagomedov and many other elite athletes turned to Combat Sambo because they “couldn’t make it” in pure wrestling. “People who do Sambo, they can’t wrestle, they can’t make it in wrestling,” Cejudo said. This critique comes as Cejudo remains active in Real American Freestyle Wrestling, where he recently defeated Merab Dvalishvili on the mats.

Cejudo gets a chance to avenge a UFC loss

Henry Cejudo’s wrestling pursuits continue with a high-profile match scheduled for November 28. He will defend his Real American Freestyle lightweight crossover championship against UFC bantamweight contender Song Yadong at RAF 15 in Chicago. The bout offers Cejudo a path to redeem a February 2025 UFC loss to Yadong, which ended in a technical decision due to an accidental eye poke. Cejudo had publicly challenged Yadong, calling him a “coward” and noting his own permanent eye damage from their first encounter.

The enduring shadow of the McGregor feud

While current events swirl around his training base and legacy, the defining rivalry of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s career remains his October 2018 clash with Conor McGregor. That feud, which included a bus attack and unprecedented pre-fight hostility, culminated in a fourth-round submission victory for Nurmagomedov. Eight years later, the fight is still cited as a watershed moment that redefined the sport’s promotional scale and the intensity of its personal conflicts.

• Petr Yan is using Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Kislovodsk training base to prepare for his UFC 333 title defense on October 28, 2026.
• Merab Dvalishvili has ended his feud with Nurmagomedov’s camp ahead of challenging Yan.
• Henry Cejudo argues Nurmagomedov excelled in Sambo because he wasn’t successful in pure wrestling.
• Cejudo faces Song Yadong in a wrestling match on November 28, 2026, seeking revenge for a 2025 UFC loss.