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Former UFC undefeated and undisputed lightweight champion and pound-for-pound king Khabib Nurmagomedov retired in October 2020. However, he has not stepped away from the fight business. The Russian wrestler, who retired with a legendary 29-0 MMA record, has transitioned well into his new role as a coach.
Khabib Nurmagomedov was initially spotted cornering his childhood friend Islam Makhachev for the latter's UFC fights. But soon, 'The Eagle' decided that he might try his hand at coaching. Nurmagomedov took up the responsibility of guiding and mentoring fellow athletes from Dagestan, including his brothers.
It seemed like a casual one-off role at the start for the 33-year-old Sambo specialist. But it turns out that Nurmagomedov, who is already being labeled 'Coach of the Year', is in it for the long haul. In this article, we look at five reasons why the hype behind Khabib Nurmagomedov being a coach is real.
#5. Khabib Nurmagomedov is already being considered for Coach of the Year
Khabib Nurmagomedov quit fighting and started cornering fighters from his team just a little over a year ago. Following huge success, however, he is being considered a running candidate for Coach of the Year for 2021 by sections of MMA media and experts.
And while 'The Eagle' believes all of it is hype, head coach at the American Kickboxing Academy Javier Mendez feels otherwise. According to Mendez, Khabib Nurmagomedov has great potential as a coach and it is he who is the real head coach for the Dagestani contingent.
Speaking on the Real Quick with Mike Swick podcast, Javier Mendez praised coach Khabib Nurmagomedov and said:
"But as far as what he's done, he's another level. I can say something to the guys and they'll listen. But if he says something else they're gonna go his route. So, I maybe his coach but the real coach for the Dagestani guys is really him. Even with the other coaches that are really really good, he's the head coach. I mean he'll listen to me but realistically the guys are all gonna listen to him cause he's been for them and he hooks them all up. He gets those guys all money sponsorships. He just cares so much about his whole team that he goes way and above what anybody has ever done to make sure they are taken care of."
#4. Khabib Nurmagomedov knows his mentees well
Khabib Nurmagomedov is training most of his fellow Dagestani fighters, a few of whom are even his kin. Therefore, it shouldn't be a surprise that 'The Eagle' knows his mentees a bit too well. Like a great coach, he knows their strengths and weaknesses and is the perfect man to guide them inside the octagon.
During an interview with RT Sport MMA earlier this year, Khabib Nurmagomedov stated:
“I don’t plan to be a professional coach. But when my brothers fight, since I have a lot of experience in the octagon, I can give good advice; especially when it’s guys that you grew up with and know well. You know their strengths and weaknesses, how they match up against their opponent – I’ll be doing that in the future."
#3. Khabib Nurmagomedov knows what it takes to stay undefeated as a fighter
Khabib Nurmagomedov made his UFC debut in 2012 riding on a 16-0 MMA record. Slowly, but steadily, 'The Eagle' started showing up at bigger fights and didn't slow down regardless of the competition. He defeated the likes of Rafael dos Anjos and Michael Johnson, and defeated Al Iaquinta for the vacant UFC lightweight title.
Khabib's biggest moment came when he defeated Conor McGregor at UFC 229. Doing so, he confirmed that he was levels above his competition and not even 'The Notorious' could pose him a threat. Following his biggest win, Nurmagomedov defeated two of the best lightweight fighters in the UFC, i.e. Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje, before announcing his retirement as a fighter.
Naturally, Khabib Nurmagomedov knows many aspects of the fight game and what it takes to stay on top of the cut-throat competition that MMA offers. After all, he rarely lost a single round in his entire MMA career, including in the UFC.
Having spent his entire career under the tutelage of his father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, Khabib is well-equipped in conventional ways, also known as "father's plan", and more. Out of the best MMA coaches in the world, very few would be able to beat the street cred that 'The Eagle' brings to the table.
#2. Khabib Nurmagomedov's students cannot stop praising him
Khabib Nurmagomedov isn't just cornering Islam Makhachev but a bunch of other fighters from Dagestan. Apart from his number one, who is ranked #4 in the UFC lightweight division, Nurmagomedov is also mentoring fighters like Usman, Umar, and Abubakr Nurmagomedov.
In fact, there's a whole list of fighters who are being coached by Khabib Nurmagomedov. And while differences between MMA coaches and athletes are not a rarity at all, Khabib's students have only praise for him. Following his submission win over Dan Hooker at UFC 269, Islam Makhachev, who was being cornered by Nurmagomedov, said:
"I try to kimura and he (Hooker) go a little bit back here. Khabib tell me, everybody can listen who watch fight again. He tell me 'hey, step up to his head and when I step I give him exactly kimura."
Regarding Khabib Nurmagomedov's commitment to coaching his fellow athletes, Islam Makhachev said that the former does it absolutely free of cost. Makhachev said at the UFC Vegas 31 post-fight conference:
"I want to be like Khabib. He is great man, he is champion, he has a lot of money now, a lot of everything, but still humble guy. He comes to USA without his family, stays one, two months just to help me. He don’t take money, nothing. He just comes and helps all team. He does everything for team. He pay for everything. I cannot explain to you about Khabib because he do a lot of lot of stuff but nobody knows."
What's more interesting is that these athletes have been on a roll since they've joined 'The Eagle' at the American Kickboxing Academy, which takes us to the next point.
#1. Khabib Nurmagomedov is undefeated as coach
Starting January 2021, Khabib Nurmagomedov helped three of his mentees put up dominant wins inside the UFC octagon. In his first outing, 'The Eagle' helped Umar Nurmagomedov prepare for a bantamweight bout against Sergey Morozov and picked up a win. In March, coach Khabib scored back-to-back wins when Islam Makhachev and Abubakr Nurmagomedov defeated Drew Dober and Jared Gooden at UFC 259 and 260 respectively.
When Islam Makhachev stepped inside the octagon at UFC Vegas 31 and submitted Thiago Moises, Khabib Nurmagomedov improved to a 4-0 record.
Among the pool of fighters who are being coached by Khabib Nurmagomedov are some who fight in Bellator as well. Going into Bellator 263 in August 2021, the former UFC champion had as many as three fighters to corner. By the end of the night, all of them -- Gadzhi Rabadanov, Islam Mamedov, and Usman Nurmagomedov -- had emerged victorious, helping Khabib graduate to 7-0 as coach.
With Islam Makhachev defeating Dan Hooker at UFC 267 and Usman Nurmagomedov rising victorious at Bellator 269, coach Khabib continues to prove his worth as a trainer.
