Tag: Khabib Nurmagomedov

Javier Mendez: Khabib was worried about Alexander Volkanovski giving Islam Makhachev trouble

Khabib Nurmagomedov correctly predicted that Alexander Volkanovski would be a tough out for Islam Makhachev.

[autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] correctly predicted that [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] was going to be a stern test for [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag].

According to Javier Mendez, Nurmagomedov expressed concern about the matchup, which the American Kickboxing Academy coach initially dismissed. But as Nurmagomedov thought, Volkanovski (25-2 MMA, 12-1 UFC) ended up taking lightweight champion Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) to the brink in their title fight, which headlined UFC 284 in February, but ultimately he fell short by unanimous decision.

“Khabib would call me up and Khabib would say, ‘Coach, I’m really worried about this fight. Volkanovski is really, really tough. I’m concerned for Islam on this one a little bit,'” Mendez said on the “Jibber with Jaber” podcast. “I’m like, ‘I’m not. We’re gonna win this fight. I don’t know how easy and how hard, but we’re gonna win this fight. So, I know you’re worried, Khabib, but I’m not worried.’ …

“Fast forward to the fight, it was everything Khabib said it was going to be. Super, super tough fight.”

Mendez praised Volkanovski for his strong fifth round, where he dropped Makhachev and ended the fight in top position. But Mendez thinks Makhachev won the other four rounds – despite them being close.

“For me, Alex won that fifth round,” Mendez said. “The last minute, minute-and-a-half of that fifth round. To me, I only gave him that round. But it was devastating. In some people’s eyes, that was, ‘Oh, he did so fantastic, he won the fight.’ The other rounds were closer, but Islam won. To me, Islam won 4-1. If you say 3-2, OK, 3-2.”

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One judge awarded Makhachev the first four rounds as Mendez scored it, whereas the other two judges scored it 3-2 for Makhachev. All three judges awarded Volkanovski Round 5.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 284.

Daniel Cormier praises Conor McGregor for elevating Khabib Nurmagomedov, Dustin Poirier to stardom

Daniel Cormier says Khabib is a “megastar” and Dustin Poirier hit a “level of stardom he never could’ve imagined” all because of Conor McGregor.

[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] lauds [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] for turning his rivals into stars.

As the 10-year anniversary of McGregor’s UFC debut approaches, Cormier reflected on what “The Notorious” has done in the sport, pointing to the record-setting numbers he’s drawn as a star.

But Cormier also acknowledged the positive impact McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) has had on his opposition – mainly after suffering losses to [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] and [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag].

“He has elevated two of my best friends,” Cormier said on his ESPN show “DC & RC.” “Two of the guys that I love, that I appreciate in this sport more than anyone. He has elevated Khabib to a megastar, and he has elevated Dustin Poirier to a level of stardom that Dustin never could’ve imagined getting before. So not only does he help himself, he helps the guys that he shares the octagon with – especially the ones that can beat him.”

Cormier’s favorite McGregor moment was his 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo at UFC 194 in December 2015, which won him the featherweight title. It was that moment that Cormier thinks changed McGregor’s life.

“In the Aldo fight, for all we knew about Jose Aldo, the greatness, how annoyed he was with Conor McGregor – we thought he was going to punish the brash Irishman,” Cormier said. “And then he knocked him out in 14 (13) seconds and the world was turned on its’ axis, and the world really became his in that night. On that night, it was Conor McGregor’s world.”

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McGregor is expected to make his highly anticipated return to the octagon later in the year when he takes on Michael Chandler, who he recently spent eight weeks with coaching the “Ultimate Fighter 31.”

Colby Covington: Khabib Nurmagomedov avoided welterweight because of me

“I would’ve walked him down,” Colby Covington said if he’d ever gotten the chance to fight UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov.

[autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] thinks UFC Hall of Famer [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] purposely avoided moving up to welterweight.

Nurmagomedov had a perfect MMA career, going unbeaten in 29 fights with three lightweight title defenses against Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje. One thing “The Eagle” never attempted was chasing after a second UFC title, but Covington (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) believes he wouldn’t have been able to handle the gritty grappling style of welterweights such as himself if he did.

“He never came to 170, because the man’s here,” Covington told My MMA News. “He doesn’t wanna fight the man. He knew the man that had a great style for him, the guy that was way more well rounded, could stuff his takedowns, being in his face and punch, and putting volume on him, and doesn’t break under cardio. Like, that’s what I do best. I would’ve walked him down. So, him and Makhachev need to shut their f*cking mouths. They’re all talk and no walk like myself.”

After welterweight champion Leon Edwards retained his title against Kamaru Usman in Saturday’s UFC 286 headliner, UFC president Dana White declared Covington the No. 1 contender. Covington flew to London to weigh in as a backup for the title fight, but his services weren’t needed.

With many fighters vying for a shot at Edwards, lightweight champion and Nurmagomedov’s protege, Makhachev, threw his name in the mix too. But Covington said both Nurmagomedov and Makhachev’s wrestling would be no match for his top-tier American style.

“It’s been right time, right place,” Covington said. “They’ve been able to fight guys that didn’t have wrestling backgrounds. If they fought a guy that was a USA-level wrestler, like an Olympic-level wrestler, they’re gonna get smoked. It’s not even gonna be competitive. American wrestling is much better, much more revolutionized, and just a better style of wrestling that works in the UFC. These guys have just been able to capitalize. Right time, right place with the right matchups.”

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Jon Jones’ top 5 fighters of all time includes Khabib Nurmagomedov

Ahead of his return at UFC 285, Jon Jones has named his top five fighters of all time. Thoughts on his list?

Ahead of his highly anticipated return to the UFC, [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] has named his top five fighters of all time.

Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) returns from a more than three-year layoff when he takes on Ciryl Gane (10-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) for the vacant heavyweight title in the UFC 285 headliner on March 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Former light heavyweight champ Jones is widely considered as one of the greatest fighters of all time and thinks becoming a UFC champ-champ would solidify him as No. 1 all time.

Joining him on his list are four other fighters. Scroll below to see Jones’ top five from his interview with RMC France.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 285.

Jon Jones heaps praise on fellow ex-UFC champ Khabib Nurmagomedov: ‘I appreciate his existence’

Former UFC light heavyweight champ and upcoming heavyweight title challenger Jon Jones is a fan of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s character.

[autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] is a fan of [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag]’s character.

Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) included Nurmagomedov in his top five all-time best fighters, but praised him beyond his fighting ability.

The former light heavyweight king spoke highly of Nurmagomedov as a person, as well as his actions outside of the octagon.

“I love what Khabib represents,” Jones told RMC France. “We’ve had our differences in the past. I’ve made some quotes about him. But there’s never really been a real beef. I love the way he carries himself as a Muslim. I love the way he represents his country. I love the businessman that he is. He just seems like a stand-up guy. He gives back to others. He’s a stand-up guy. He’s an admirable man. I appreciate his existence.”

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It appears Jones has changed his tune over the years. The differences Jones is referring to is when he dismissed the notion the undefeated Nurmagomedov is the greatest of all time. Jones said Nurmagomedov only started fighting elite-level competition late in his career. Before he retired in October 2020, Nurmagomedov’s final three wins came with finishes of Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje in title fights.

Jones returns from a layoff of more than three years when he meets Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight title in the UFC 285 headliner March 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. If victorious, “Bones” thinks that will cement him as the greatest fighter of all time.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 285.

Khabib remains in Islam Makhachev’s corner at UFC 284 – if only figuratively

Khabib Nurmagomedov isn’t physically with Islam Makhachev this week, but he’s there with him in spirit, and also electronically.

PERTH, Australia – [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] isn’t physically with [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] in the land Down Under this week, but he’s there with him in spirit, and also electronically.

Just because UFC Hall of Famer Nurmagomedov recently announced he was stepping away from coaching, that doesn’t mean he’s completely detached from his fighters.

“He still help me. He just stop his traveling, and that’s it,” Makhachev told reporters during UFC 284 media day. “But every morning he send me message, check my weight, ask me how I’m training, what I did. We’re always on the phone.”

Nurmagomedov retired from competition undefeated after he beat Justin Gaethje to retain the lightweight title in October 2020. But it maybe hadn’t felt like much of a retirement for Nurmagomedov given how involved in MMA he remained as the face of Eagle FC and coaching his star pupils such as Makhachev and Bellator champion Usman Nurmagomedov.

Nurmagomedov especially has found great success as a coach, winning MMA Junkie’s 2022 Co-Coach of the Year award along with Javier Mendez. But the reality is that Makhachev is moving forward without Nurmagomedov completely by his side, starting with the biggest fight of his career Saturday as he attempts to make his first title defense against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in the UFC 284 headliner at RAC Arena.

Makhachev, who’s riding an 11-fight winning streak, understands where Nurmagomedov is coming from and is at peace with his decision.

“He said, ‘Hey, guys, when I travel with you, all the media, all the stuff focus on me. And, like, not just this one, I leave from the camp, from the traveling, because you have to make your legacy,'” Makhachev said. “Of course when Khabib is my corner, it means a lot to me, because inside fight he give me good advice always. But I understand his decision, because when I retire I want to stay with family – with my kids, mother, father. I want to give them some time.

“How many months did (Khabib) travel in 2022? He say he travel 10 months. ‘But I told my mother when I retired I’m gonna stay home with kids, with family.’ But he was still traveling.”

That’s not the case this week, and for the first time we’ll find out how that affects Makhachev.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 284.

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Bellator champ Usman Nurmagomedov says Khabib still giving him coaching advice: ‘He’s my brother’

Usman Nurmagomedov says Khabib will still help him out despite not being in his corner at Bellator 292.

[autotag]Usman Nurmagomedov[/autotag] says Khabib will still help him out despite not being in his corner at Bellator 292.

Lightweight champion Nurmagomedov (16-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) defends his title against Benson Henderson (30-11MMA, 7-6 BMMA) in the quarterfinals of the Bellator grand prix on March 10 in San Jose, Calif.

Khabib may have officially stepped from coaching and cornering duties, but Nurmagomedov said his cousin still gives him advice in and out of the cage.

“Khabib is my brother; he’s my cousin,” Nurmagomedov told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “We’re not only talking about sport, we are family too. He’s my brother.”

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Nurmagomedov meets former UFC lightweight champion Henderson, who defeated his teammate Islam Mamedov by split decision at Bellator 273 last January. Nurmagomedov was in Mamedov’s corner for that fight.

“He’s a legend, brother,” Nurmagomedov said of Henderson. “Good experience for me, and I will be ready. … I know what he will do, but this is five rounds, big fight, and I hope he will be healthy and in good shape.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 292.

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Islam Makhachev not worried about Khabib Nurmagomedov’s absence from corner at UFC 284

UFC champ Islam Makhachev believes he’ll be just fine without Khabib Nurmagomedov in his corner against Alexander Volkanovski.

UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] isn’t concerned about [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] missing from his corner, because it’s not the first time.

Nurmagomedov, Makhachev’s (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) mentor, announced that his role traveling and cornering fighters will be significantly reduced this year. “The Eagle” won’t be in Makhachev’s corner for his title defense against featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski (25-1 MMA, 12-0 UFC) on Feb. 11 at UFC 284 in Perth, Australia.

“I understand him, because he was retired, but he still traveled a lot with the whole team,” Makhachev told Fox Sports Australia. “And when somebody has a fight, he goes to the training camp, went to the other things. And when you retire, you want to spend time with your family. For example, 2022 he spent just two months at home with his family, but all the other time he traveled a lot. That’s why he wants to spend more time with his family.”

Makhachev said Nurmagomedov still had a big involvement in his preparation for the Volkanovski fight.

“I fought a couple of times without him in my corner,” Makhachev said. “He gave me good support for this fight. We talked about this fight. He gave me the plan. I have to fight, that’s why we will see.”

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Makhachev’s first title defense is coming against a featherweight, but it also happens to be against the UFC’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in Volkanovski, which he thinks will help build his legacy.

“Every fighter wants to be pound-for-pound (No. 1), not just champion,” Makhachev said. “I am champion right now, but I have new goal, new target. I want to be pound-for-pound king, because this is, I think, a dream for all fighters. When you’re pound-for-pound world champion, this means a lot.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 284.

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Tony Ferguson says he has been asked to coach ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ opposite Conor McGregor

How does a season of TUF with Tony Ferguson and Conor Mcgregor sound?

The next season of “The Ultimate Fighter” is around the corner, but the coaches have yet to be officially named.

According to the former UFC interim lightweight champion [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag], he was not only contacted about a coaching role in the upcoming 31st season of the reality competition series expected to film soon, but given a choice of who he would be coaching against.

Since Ferguson’s first choice of retired UFC Hall of Famer [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] has completely stepped away from the sport, his next choice is the former two-division champion, [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag].

Ferguson’s statement on social media comes just a day after McGregor said he was offered to coach the show, to which he said, “I like it.”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cn5rRU-gryZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

“I’ve Been Asked To Coach On TUF Against Ol’e Fathead, or Anyone Of My Choosing If That Cake-Eatin’ Sum’Bish’ Wouldn’t Show *mack* 🤦‍♂️ What A Vagina 🏃‍♂️💨🍃 I’m Always Ready Anytime Anywhere,.. 📈 I Choose You McKnacker 🫵😎 @thenotoriousmma See Ewe🐑 Soon- Thee🏔️Champ 🤓 -CSO- 🇺🇸🏆🇲🇽 # My👇Mat 💯

Ferguson made his first big splash by winning Season 13 of TUF with Team Lesnar in 2011. On his run to the TUF crown, Ferguson stopped all of his opponents: Justin Edwards, Ryan McGillivray, Chuck O’Neil, and Ramsey Nijem in the finale.

McGregor has TUF experience as well, although not as a fighter.

McGregor coached opposite Urijah Faber on Season 22 in 2015, but did not face his rival coach in the octagon. The coaches of each team have often fought at the conclusion of the season, but McGregor was lined up to unify the featherweight title against then-champion Jose Aldo.

If Ferguson and McGregor end up coaching against one another on Season 31 of the show, it is unclear if the two will meet inside the octagon. The new season is expected to broadcast later this spring.

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Video: What impact will Khabib Nurmagomedov leaving coaching have on his fighters?

Our “Spinning Back Clique” discusses the impact of Khabib Nurmagomedov walking away from coaching as the 2023 slate of fights begins.

UFC Hall of Famer [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] made an impact as a coach after the conclusion of his fighting career, but now, it appears that chapter is done as well.

Nurmagomedov, one half of MMA Junkie’s 2022 Coaches of the Year along with [autotag]Javier Mendez[/autotag], has accomplished a lot in a short time as a leading man from cageside. It was a fantastic year for the team, which accomplished the goal of seeing [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] become the UFC lightweight champion, in addition to numerous victories across multiple promotions from his stable of Dagestani fighters.

Simply put, Nurmagomedov’s influence on his fighters has been immense, but now it seems it’s time for him to move on and focus on family.

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What does this move mean for his fighters? Will there be able to compete at the same high level without his presence cageside? What does this mean for Makhachev who has a massive title fight on the horizon against Alexander Volkanovski?

Furthermore, is Nurmagomedov really stepping away from MMA entirely?

Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel of Danny Segura, Nolan King and Mike Bohn answered those questions and more with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia. You can watch their discussion in the video above. And don’t miss this week’s full episode below.

“Spinning Back Clique” is released each Monday LIVE on MMA Junkie’s YouTube channel.

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