5 UFC fighters who would make great coaches

The UFC is a promotion that is brimming with talent. Fighters emerging from the UFC are some of the most skilled and proficient combat sports athletes in the world. Thereby making the UFC the grandest MMA promotion in the world.

Coaches who instruct fighters that make it big in the sport function in the shadow of their fighters. However, the role that they play in developing these fighters into champions is absolutely vital.

Competent coaches are those who lead their teams by example and train their fighters to become successful leaders as well. These fighters then go on to help other fighters achieve success in their pursuit of glory.

UFC 265: Kowalkiewicz v Penne

To reach the absolute pinnacle of the combat sports community, one must display more than just good fighting IQ and skills. A complete fighter is one who can lead and guide other fighters, molding them into efficient fighters like themselves.

However, the art of leadership is something that is lost on fighters more often than not. Nonetheless, the UFC has a treasure trove of fighters who would make for excellent head coaches. In this article, we take a look at some UFC fighters who have what it takes to groom and mentor budding and tenured fighters into efficient mixed martial artists.

---

#5. UFC Women's Bantamweight Miesha Tate

Miesha Tate is perhaps one of the most decorated female MMA fighters of all time. The way she conducted herself over the course of The Ultimate Fighter - Season 18 - suggests that she is well and truly cut out for leadership.

Competing against Ronda Rousey, her fiercest rival, Tate managed to maintain a degree of stoic composure and solidity. Rousey, who was infamous for her discordant personality, tried to goad Tate into an altercation on multiple occasions.

However, Tate refused to indulge and had the last laugh after Julianna Pena and Chris Holdsworth from her team walked away from the tournament with wins in the finale.

What's more, Miesha Tate has been very vocal about the way coaches conduct themselves in front of their fighters. As was evident from the way she chided Aspen Ladd's coach. This suggests that she is empathetic to her underlings and would make for a great head coach.

#4. UFC Welterweight Stephen Thompson

Stephen Thompson is often hailed as one of the nicest fighters in the UFC. However, there is a lot more to Stephen Thompson than just his amicable demeanor.

'Wonderboy' came into the UFC on the back of an absolutely staggering amateur and professional career. Over the course of his amateur kickboxing career, Stephen Thompson managed to consolidate an unbeaten record of 37-0.

This was followed by a 20-0 stint as a pro-kickboxer before he forayed into the realm of MMA and went 5-0 before signing with the UFC.

He brings a unique brand and a varied skillset with a karate-dominant style to the fold. His proficiency across multiple spectrums of combat sports gives him the technical know-how to become a great head coach.

What's more, he has also expressed interest in coaching a TUF (The Ultimate Fighter) team sometime in the future. Here's what he had to say about the same while in conversation with MMA Fighting's Mike Heck:

"I think it would be fun. Change it up and see if the NMF can go out there and have a good time with it. I think it would be cool", said Stephen Thompson.

---

#3. UFC Middleweight Georges St-Pierre

Georges St-Pierre is a true veteran of the sport, who has seen the highs and lows that come with a career in combat sports. Boasting a UFC record of 26-2-0, GSP is popularly hailed as one of the greatest fighters to have fought in the UFC.

His success across multiple weight classes and his prowess for various styles of combat offer him the credibility and legitimacy he requires to embody the role of a head coach perfectly.

What's more, his performance as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter's Season 12 only worked to make a stronger case for the same. He managed to lead Jonathan Brookins all the way to a victory in the TUF finale.

In addition to his leadership, GSP stacked his coaching staff up with some of the most experienced and proficient coaches in their respective styles. Rest assured he will do the same for his fighters when fight week rolls around.

#2. UFC Lightweight Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor has managed to solidify himself as the face of the UFC and the fight game as a whole. It is his experience inside the octagon and the way he markets himself that has earned him such success.

Should the former UFC double champ ever make the jump to head coaching a fighter, one can rest assured that 'The Notorious' will help his fighter's marketability in addition to their skills inside the octagon.

Conor McGregor is an extremely passionate fighter and teammate and there's nothing that suggests that the same will not translate into his work as a head coach. Conor is often seen supporting his SBG Ireland teammates.

The most infamous instance was when McGregor got into a bust-up with referee Marc Goddard and a Bellator official at Bellator 187.

---

#1. UFC Lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov

After Khabib Nurmagomedov bid active contention in the octagon adieu, he went on to guide his teammates to becoming better fighters. Much in line with his track record, Khabib Nurmagomedov is currently helping his teammates record wins in the octagon.

Since January 2021, Khabib has helped three fighters record wins in the UFC, including Usman Nurmagomedov, Abubakar Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.

What's more, Khabib Nurmagomedov exhibits multiple signs that suggest that he would make a great head coach. Having learned the trade from some of the best coaches in the world, it would surprise no one to see Khabib Nurmagomedov soar to new heights as a head coach.

His father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov and his coach Javier Mendez, who have trained a legion of successful fighters, offered Khabib a significant amount of insight that helped him hone his skills as a leader.

His loyalty to his family suggests that he would extend the same courtesy to his fighters, making him a great mentor and leading his team by his own example.