Tag: Javier Mendez

Javier Mendez: Islam Makhachev ‘can do whatever he wants’ against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302

Javier Mendez is confident Islam Makhachev doesn’t have to wrestle Dustin Poirier and can beat him in the striking at UFC 302.

Many are seeing the upcoming lightweight title fight between [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] and [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] as a repeat of Poirier’s 2019 failed attempt to win the belt against Khabib Nurmagomedov. However, [autotag]Javier Mendez[/autotag], head coach of Makhachev and Nurmagomedov, thinks that analysis is totally wrong.

Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) looks to make his third title defense against Poirier (30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC) on June 1 in the main event of UFC 302. Although Makhachev’s team is familiar with Poirier, Mendez sees this as a different matchup.

“No, this is going to be a lot different because Islam is not Khabib,” Mendez told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “They’re two different fighters, and they don’t work the same. The only thing they do the same is the discipline. They both work hard, but their style is different.

“Khabib was more ground-oriented, but that’s what we wanted. We’d always tell him, ‘Take the fight to the ground, take the fight to the ground. Father’s plan, father’s plan.’ … With Islam, he’s training all the styles; Muay Thai and boxing with other instructors in Dagestan. Khabib never did, he only trained with me. That’s why Islam evolved so much in the striking. Islam can fight however he wants, Khabib we would tell him to wrestle because no one in the world could deal with it, and we knew it.

“Islam has it all. How he wants to win, when he wants to win, where he wants to win, it’s up to him. We can take the fight anywhere we want. That’s the difference between Islam and Khabib. Khabib’s No. 1 thing was wrestling, but Islam can do whatever he wants.”

Many have suggested that Makhachev’s path to victory is to wrestle against Poirier like Nurmagomedov did in his 2019 title defense. Poirier is a dangerous striker, but Mendez is confident that Makhachev can not only hang with Poirier on the feet but also beat him at his own game.

“Look what happened against Volkanovslki, he beat him in the striking,” Mendez said. “If people think that Islam can only win by taking the fight to the ground, they are wrong. That’s not how it has to happen. Islam can do whatever he wants. Now, I’m not going to tell you what we have planned for the fight, but I can tell you Islam can do whatever he wants. Striking or ground game, we can do it all.”

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For more on the cards, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 302.

Islam Makhachev’s coach: Arman Tsarukyan passing up title shot ‘right call from him’

Javier Mendez agrees with Arman Tsarukyan’s decision to not fight Islam Makhachev on short notice.

[autotag]Javier Mendez[/autotag] agrees with [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag]’s decision to not fight [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] on short notice.

Tsarukyan defeated former champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 300. He was offered a title shot against lightweight champion Makhachev on less than two-months notice at UFC 302 on June 1, but turned down the opportunity due to the lack of time to prepare.

Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) lost a back-and-forth battle to Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) in his UFC debut. Makhachev’s coach Mendez thinks Tsarukyan was right to decline a quick turnaround.

“From people that I know with him, they said that, yeah, he’s just said he wouldn’t be ready for that type of fight just yet,” Mendez told Submission Radio. “You know, he might have more time to prepare. And you know what? That’s the right call from him. It’s like, he’s in the driver’s seat, also, so why would he risk his chance?

“Why not go properly prepared for the opportunity that he presented himself by having a victory over Oliveira? So no, I think it’s true, and I think he did the right thing by what he needs to do for what he wants. Had it been anybody else, I don’t know what they would have done. I think someone like Max Holloway, if he was put in that situation, he probably would have been one of the few guys that would have said, ‘I’m in.'”

Instead, Makhachev will defend his title against Dustin Poirier at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. If Makhachev gets passed “The Diamond,” Mendez expects Tsarukyan to be next, but wouldn’t be surprised if he wasn’t.

“I think Arman is going to be more than likely the guy, I’m thinking,” Mendez said. “Who knows. But if everything goes according to what they would probably want, we’re OK with Arman. We’re OK with Max. Whatever the UFC offers, Islam’s going to take it. I’m sure it’s not his preferable choice.

“If he asks Islam what he wants after this one, he’d want to go for the welterweight title because he wants to repeat what other people rarely do: become a two-(division) champion. So that’s what he would want – I’m pretty sure about that. But it’s a matter of whether the UFC wants to give him that opportunity right now. I think at some point, they will.”

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For more on the cards, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 302.

Islam Makhachev’s coach: ‘Biggest threat’ Justin Gaethje no longer in UFC title picture

Javier Mendez believes UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev’s most dangerous opponent is out of the way.

Javier Mendez believes UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag]’s most dangerous opponent is out of the way.

[autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] lined himself up for a title shot after knocking out Dustin Poirier to claim the BMF title at UFC 291. However, he opted to defend his belt against Max Holloway at UFC 300 and was on the receiving end of a last-second knockout.

Now Mendez isn’t sure if Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) will ever face Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) in a title fight.

“Yeah, to me, the guy out of all the guys that I thought for us stylistically was very dangerous out of all of them, I thought it was Justin Gaethje,” Mendez said on his YouTube channel. “Stylistically because of his wrestling pedigree and his striking is really good, strong.

“It’s all apples and oranges right? Because everybody brings a different skillset, so I thought that he was the biggest threat for us and now he’s probably never going to be in the picture for us going forward. So, no need to talk about him for us as a threat because he’s never going to be there, I think.”

Mendez already had to prep for Gaethje before when Khabib Nurmagomedov defended his title against him. Nurmagomedov submitted him in Round 2 at UFC 254 but lost Round 1 on two of the three judges’ scorecards.

Makhachev will defend his lightweight title against Dustin Poirier (30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC) in the UFC 302 main event June 1 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Waiting in the wings is Arman Tsarukyan, who edged out Charles Oliveira at UFC 300.

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For more on the cards, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 302.

Javier Mendez disagrees with Daniel Cormier’s claim that Islam Makhachev more dangerous than Khabib Nurmagomedov

For Javier Mendez, Islam Makhachev is more skilled than Khabib Nurmagomedov but not more dangerous.

For [autotag]Javier Mendez[/autotag], [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] is more skilled than [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] but not more dangerous.

[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag], who also trained under Mendez at American Kickboxing Academy, said UFC lightweight champion Makhachev is even more dangerous than former champ Nurmagomedov was during his prime.

Mendez heavily disagrees.

“OK, he’s more skilled in multiple areas, yes,” Mendez told MMA Mania. “More dangerous? Nobody is more dangerous, in my opinion, in the world than Khabib. Nobody, no one, I don’t care. I haven’t seen one that is more dangerous than Khabib in the sense of danger. I mean, you can’t do nothing to him. It’s very difficult to do anything to him.”

Mendez raved about Nurmagomedov’s chin. “The Eagle” retired undefeated and never tasted his own blood in 29 professional fights. Mendez says only one fighter was able to briefly stun Nurmagomedov.

“Khabib is the most dangerous because, first of all, in my opinion and I’m being biased because I love him to death, he’s got the hardest chin I’ve ever seen on anybody,” Mendez continued. “He’s been hit. The only person who rocked him a little bit, a tiny bit, was Michael Johnson.

“Michael Johnson hit him with one hell of a shot and other than that, no one else has hit him with anything. Justin Gaethje’s hit him, but did nothing. He steamrolls everybody. I think ‘DC’ probably meant more skilled, yes that’s correct. But, more dangerous? I don’t think there’s ever been a man more dangerous than Khabib.”

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Javier Mendez ‘all for’ UFC champ Islam Makhachev facing Dustin Poirier next

Javier Mendez likes the idea of UFC champ Islam Makhachev defending his title vs. Dustin Poirier next.

[autotag]Javier Mendez[/autotag] likes the idea of UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] fighting [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] next.

Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) wants to return in June. With top lightweights Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan tied up with fights at UFC 300 on April 13, Makhachev suggested Poirier – even though he doesn’t think he necessarily deserves it.

Poirier (30-8 MMA, 22-7 UFC) was knocked out by Gaethje at UFC 291 but rebounded with a finish of his own against Benoit Saint Denis earlier this month at UFC 299. Makhachev’s head coach, Mendez, thinks the timeline fits perfectly for Makhachev to face Poirier.

“Islam’s a true professional, and he wanted to fight at a time that he’s going to be ready to defend his title at the best ability that he can do,” Mendez told MMA Mania. “During Ramadan time, shortly thereafter, there’s no way. Not going to happen. If it’s Dustin, fantastic. If it’s Justin, fantastic.

“But from my perspective, because who’s available now, who would be available sooner: Dustin. I believe that’s the reason why this is going on. We don’t know what’s going to happen with Justin and the fight with Charles (vs. Tsarukyan). We don’t know. What if the winner gets injured, and now the fight’s delayed? Now Islam’s got to wait how much more time?”

Poirier is ready to face Makhachev in June. He also presents a fresh matchup for Makhachev, who’s already beaten both Oliveira and Tsarukyan.

“I’m all for Dustin because Dustin’s injury-free, he’s a great fighter, a great human being,” Mendez said. “He’s my pick also because of the circumstances fit perfect for Dustin and Islam. Perfect.”

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Islam Makhachev’s coach: Arman Tsarukyan impressive, but Justin Gaethje or Charles Oliveira likely next

Javier Mendez believes Arman Tsarukyan has earned a UFC lightweight title shot, but there are people ahead of him.

American Kickboxing Academy coach [autotag]Javier Mendez[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] has earned a UFC lightweight title shot, but there are people ahead of him.

Tsarukyan (21-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) scored a quick knockout of Beneil Dariush in the UFC on ESPN 52 headliner and called for a rematch with champion [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC).

But with [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] waiting for his title shot and [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] hoping to get his rematch with Makhachev rebooked, Mendez doubts Tsarukyan is Makhachev’s next title defense. Tsarukyan gave Makhachev a valiant effort in his UFC debut in 2019 but ultimately fell short.

“It was very impressive,” Mendez said on his YouTube channel. “Definitely because they had history and the fight was a very tough fight for Islam, you would think the UFC being the marketing machine that they are, that they’re always looking for intriguing matchups. But I think honestly there’s too many people ahead of him.

“I think Justin Gaethje, Charles are head of him, so I think that’s something they can hold later. I think, honestly speaking, we’re going to be looking at I would imagine would be Charles or Justin. Arman would be later, but I think he’s going to have to have one more fight. Not because he has to have one more fight, but because he’s not going to want to settle and do nothing.”

Whether the UFC opts to reschedule the Oliveira rematch or give Gaethje the title shot, Mendez says Makhachev is willing to face whomever is offered to him.

“I already know on Islam’s part, he’s not choosing the opponent,” Mendez said. “So, it comes down to whoever the UFC is going to offer, who they work out the deal with. Not who Islam chooses because whoever they say, he’s going to fight.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 52.

Javier Mendez: PFL champions not known, ‘vast majority are going to lose to Bellator guys’

Javier Mendez doesn’t see PFL fighters doing well against Bellator’s.

[autotag]Javier Mendez[/autotag] doesn’t see PFL fighters doing well against Bellator’s.

The PFL has officially acquired Bellator, and founder and co-owner Donn Davis revealed plans to do a champions vs. champions “mega-event” in 2024.

Mendez has several fighters on the Bellator roster, including lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov. The American Kickboxing Academy head coach argues that outside of Kayla Harrison, PFL’s champions don’t have notable names.

“They’re not revolving, they’re not lasting and they’re not known,” Mendez said on his YouTube channel on PFL’s champions. “Their champs aren’t known worldwide. I can’t tell you who the champ is. Only thing I know is Kayla Harrison, honestly. That’s sad, and of course, the two great acquisitions they had in Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul. Those are stellar acquisitions.”

If PFL’s champions go up against Bellator’s in head-to-head matchups, Mendez doesn’t like their chances.

“My guess is the vast majority of PFL guys are going to lose to the Bellator guys,” Mendez said. “That’s my prediction, the vast majority are going to lose. The heavyweight division, of course, if Ngannou is the heavyweight, no, he’s going to win. I don’t really know of too many other divisions.”

Davis also said that a “reimagined” Bellator brand, named “Bellator International Champions Series,” will run concurrent to PFL in 2024 with eight “one-off” events in 2024. But Mendez worries about the future of a lot of Bellator fighters.

“It’s a great move for PFL, it’s a sad move for a lot of fighters that are going to lose their jobs because from what I hear they’re only gonna do eight shows for Bellator,” Mendez said. “So, they’re cutting down drastically. They’re going to have to cut fighters.”

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Javier Mendez reflects on Sergei Pavlovich’s time at AKA: ‘Nobody could play with him in the standup’

Javier Mendez always saw potential in Sergei Pavlovich, who fights Tom Aspinall for the interim heavyweight title at UFC 295.

[autotag]Javier Mendez[/autotag] always saw potential in [autotag]Sergei Pavlovich[/autotag].

Pavlovich (18-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) faces Tom Aspinall (13-3 MMA, 6-1 UFC) for the interim heavyweight title in Saturday’s UFC 295 co-headliner at Madison Square Garden in New York. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and early prelims on ESPN+.

Pavlovich used to train at American Kickboxing Academy years ago, and Mendez says his power is as advertised. Pavlovich has knocked out his past six opponents in the first round.

“I’m very excited for this fight because I used to train Sergei way back about five, six years ago,” Mendez said in an interview with Red Corner MMA. “He was training with me and I saw the green in him and talent – meaning he was very green, but he was super, super talented … very powerful. He had great striking, great power and great attitude. He was so humble.

“I used to enjoy watching him go with Cain Velasquez and Daniel Cormier because Daniel would kind of like play with him, take him down – only in the wrestling. Nobody could play with him in the standup. But in the wrestling and the grappling area, he was the junior to them. They were the stronger grapplers. Daniel used to take him down and then let him get back up, just to take him down again. He kept doing that and before you know it, Sergei was super tired. It was rough for him on the ground, but in the standup? Oh no, Sergei could hang with anybody.”

Pavlovich’s power has him on the cusp of UFC gold. Currently training at American Top Team, Pavlovich’s lone career loss came in his UFC debut against Alistair Overeem in 2018, where he was finished on the ground. He has since been on a tear.

“Six years later, now we’re talking about a different person,” Mendez said. “We’re talking about someone who has learned, that has been through all the grappling. Now it’s a different individual. I’m sure Sergei’s got everything: ground, obviously standup, and he knocks people out.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 295.

Javier Mendez: Beating Conor McGregor ‘not going to create the kind of legacy Islam Makhachev wants’

Javier Mendez isn’t sure if fighting Conor McGregor would be the right move for Islam Makhachev.

[autotag]Javier Mendez[/autotag] isn’t sure if fighting [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] would be the right move for [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag].

Lightweight champion Makhachev (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) is fresh off a head kick knockout of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294 last month and is looking to defend his title again in the first quarter of 2024.

Makhachev’s teammate Daniel Cormier suggested McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) next, dubbing it as a fight that “makes all the sense in the world.” While Mendez is not opposed to it, he doesn’t see a McGregor fight doing too much for Makhachev’s legacy.

“I see that as a fight that would be interesting for Islam because he gets to do what Khabib (Nurmagomedov) didn’t finish, I guess you could say,” Mendez said in an interview with Red Corner MMA. “He gets to come back and get on the same journey that Khabib did. It’s a great payday for Islam. I think it’s great if Islam wants it.

“If he doesn’t, then maybe going to the welterweight title is more appealing to him – to create a legacy that he wants, because beating Conor is not going to create the kind of legacy that Islam wants. Going after the welterweight title, that’s a legacy type moment. With Conor, it’s a money and it’s a hype thing, so I don’t know his thoughts on that. It’s never been brought up.”

McGregor, who’s expected to face Michael Chandler, is coming off back-to-back losses and hasn’t competed since breaking his leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. Mendez doesn’t think McGregor would deserve a title shot upon his return but knows that isn’t how MMA typically works.

“In terms of matchmaking, I don’t know if you can say (it’s a good fight) from a real sport (perspective) – and this is not a real sport. This is entertainment first, because if it was a real sport, then Conor wouldn’t get the amount of opportunities he gets,” Mendez said. “So from a real sport (perspective), no, he needs to show that he’s worthy. But from an entertainment (aspect), yes, because he’s still the biggest name right now.”

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Islam Makhachev coach Javier Mendez unfazed by UFC 294 change to Alexander Volkanovski rematch

Coach Javier Mendez explains why he’s not worried about Islam Makhachev’s late UFC 294 opponent change.

[autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] went from preparing for a tall, aggressive striker and submission artist in Charles Oliveira, to a short, stocky, counter striker in Alexander Volkanovski – and he had only 10 days to adjust to the change.

Yet, despite the sudden and drastic switch up in opponents for what will be Makhachev’s second lightweight title defense at Saturday’s UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, his coach [autotag]Javier Mendez[/autotag] is not worried in the slightest.

“Islam doesn’t care because we can change plans on a dime,” Mendez told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “We can change it as many times as we want because he’s well-rounded. He has all the styles. He has everything. He has boxing, Thai boxing, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, sambo, he has everything.

“So we don’t care about how we’re going to prepare, no. He’ll be ready against anyone who steps in that cage. It doesn’t matter who.”

This is the second time Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) takes on Volkanovski (26-2 MMA, 13-1 UFC), as the two fought in February in Australia. That night at UFC 284, Makhachev defended his title in a very competitive unanimous decision victory.

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Many are praising Volkanovski for stepping up and taking the fight on short notice, as it should be. However, Mendez wants to remind people to put some respect on Makhachev’s name, as he’s the one who has everything to lose in this situation.

“I respect him because he’s a great champion, but we’re the ones that need to be respected because we’re taking all comers,” Mendez said. “What is Volkanovski losing? He’s not losing his title, nothing. He can only win, that’s it. If he loses, people are going to say, ‘Oh, you took the fight on 10 days’ notice.’ So who has more to lose, him or Islam? Islam. Volkanovski has nothing to lose, he’s going in there like a dog. He’s going to go in there carefree.

“He will still have his title that he’ll have to defend against the Spaniard. And look, the money that he’ll make from this fight, and then he has another fight soon, that’s a lot of incentives to fight. If he loses, what is he going to lose? Nothing.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.