On average, Khabib Nurmagomedov sheds about 37 pounds ahead of a UFC fight.

Even for a lightweight contender significantly larger than the division's average competitor, cutting down 17 kilograms in weight ahead of a fight is a daunting task. Couple that with the fact that Khabib has not fought in nearly two years - well before the IV hydration ban went into effect - and the job becomes even more stressful for the Dagestani fighter.

"Weight cutting is still quite a long process and takes about two months," Khabib told riakchr.ru. "Everything happens in stages. Basically, we maintain a diet: drink plenty of water, go to bed on time and we eat only healthy food - mainly fruit and vegetables, a little meat and little bread. We do not use chocolate and ice cream, or added salt and sugar in food. This is a very difficult process and even if everything to tell, not all will be able to stick to it, because it is necessary to bring into your life.

When you're on a diet it is very important to observe this strictly. After your weight cut, you also need to diet and cannot eat everything. After every three hours you eat fruits and vegetables, a little meat, somewhere a little bit of chocolate. You must restore all the properties that you have lost in the body."

Khabib also noted that the IV ban is not particularly beneficial for him.

"Before they banned IVs, we had recovered well from it. It will be difficult without it."

The lightweight contender even contemplated moving up a weight class to lessen the burden of cutting weight months out.

"This is the mind of me constantly. I've thought about this the last five years, because cutting weight is a very hard thing. But every time the UFC gives you a contender in the lightweight champion, you forget about another title.

"In the future, I would like to try it myself. Not this year. This year, I will stay at lightweight."