Usman Nurmagomedov has said that he wants to follow in the footsteps of his superstar cousin Khabib – and eventually become an even better fighter.
Khabib, 32, called time on his Mixed Martial Arts career after beating Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in their lightweight title fight last October.
The former lightweight champion retired immediately after the bout in Abu Dhabi that took his professional record to 29-0 and, despite the repeated efforts of UFC president Dana White, the Russian will not be going back on his call.
Usman, meanwhile, also has an unblemished record, winning all 11 of his MMA fights so far – 10 of those were ended by submission or knockout, with seven of them coming in the first round.
Khabib was present in Abu Dhabi last July to see Usman stretch his winning streak to 10-0 at the Mubadala Arena.
Appearing in the catchweight 71kg, Usman defeated Jerry Kvarnstrom in the first round when the referee stopped the bout with the Finn pinned down by a barrage of punches.
He takes on Mike Hamel in a lightweight bout at Bellator 255 in the US on Friday when his famous cousin is again expected to be in his corner.
"It's very motivational for me to fight under the Nurmagomedov name," Usman, 22, told BBC Sport.
"I want to follow in Khabib's footsteps, follow his journey and eventually become a better version of him.
"I spend my entire training camp with Khabib. It's very hard work to compete and train with him. So after training camp has finished, it feels very easy to train and fight with other people.
"I learn everything from Khabib. Whenever I want to know or learn something, Khabib is there."
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Gallery: Khabib beats Gaethje at UFC 254
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UFC 254 GALLERY: Dagestan fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov celebrates his victory over Justin Gaethje of the US after their lightweight title bout on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi. Getty -
Khabib Nurmagomedov celebrates his victory over Justin Gaethje. Getty -
Khabib Nurmagomedov clinches his victory over Justin Gaethje via a second-round triangle choke at Flash Forum. Getty -
Khabib Nurmagomedov takes down Justin Gaethje. Getty -
Justin Gaethje kicks Khabib Nurmagomedov. Getty -
Khabib Nurmagomedov punches Justin Gaethje. Getty -
Khabib Nurmagomedov after his victory. Getty -
Australian fighter Robert Whittaker lands a punch during his victory over Jared Cannonier of the US in their middleweight bout. Getty -
Robert Whittaker after the fight against Jared Cannonier. Getty -
Jared Cannonier punches Robert Whittaker. Getty -
Robert Whittaker punches Jared Cannonier. Getty -
Dagestan's Magomed Ankalaev celebrates his KO victory over Ion Cutelaba of Moldova in their light heavyweight bout on UFC's Fight Island, in Abu Dhabi. Getty -
Magomed Ankalaev knocks down Ion Cutelaba. Getty -
Magomed Ankalaev punches Ion Cutelaba. Getty -
Russian fighter Alexander Volkov celebrates his victory over Walt Harris of the US after their heavyweight bout. Getty -
Alexander Volkov punches Walt Harris. Getty -
Walt Harris punches Alexander Volkov. Getty -
US fighter Lauren Murphy celebrates her victory over Liliya Shakirova of Uzbekistan after their women's flyweight bout. Getty -
Lauren Murphy punches Liliya Shakirova. Getty -
Liliya Shakirova and Lauren Murphy during their bout. Getty -
US fighter Phillip Hawes lands a punch during his 18-second victory over Jacob Malkoun of Australia in their middleweight bout. Getty -
Phillip Hawes punches Jacob Malkoun. Getty -
Phillip Hawes celebrates his KO victory over Jacob Malkoun. Getty -
Phillip Hawes celebrates his KO victory over Jacob Malkoun. Getty -
Kazakhstan's Shavkat Rakhmonov on his way to victory over Alex Oliveira of Brazil in their welterweight bout. Getty -
Alex Oliveira lands a kick on Shavkat Rakhmonov. Getty -
American fighter Casey Kenney lands a punch and his way to victory over Nathaniel Wood of England in their catchweight bout. Getty -
Nathaniel Wood punches Casey Kenney. Getty -
Australian Tai Tuivasa lands a punch on Stefan Struve of the Netherlands on his way to victory in their heavyweight bout. Getty -
Stefan Struve lands a kick on Tai Tuivasa. Getty
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The unbeaten Dagestani had promised his mother before the Gaethje fight that it would be his last following the death in July of his father and coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.
Usman, who was also trained by Abdulmanap, said: "He taught me everything, not only as a fighter, but as a person too.
"He taught me how to talk to people, how to treat people, he taught me everything. I'm missing him a lot."
In the BBC interview, Usman described one comat sambo – a form of martial arts popular in Russia – tournament where he ended up fighting 15 times in one day.
"I thought I was fighting in one weight division at 62kg," said Usman.
"Then Abdulmanap came to me and said that I would be fighting in three different weight divisions that day. I said, 'OK, no problem.'
"I kept winning, so after every 15 minutes, I would get another fight and then another."
