The Eagle, Khabib Nurmagomedov, is often regarded as the most dominant fighter in the world. The former Lightweight king hung up his gloves in the octagon three years ago after finishing Justin Gaethje. Islam Makhachev, Nirmgomedov’s protege, currently rules the Lightweight division.
Makhachev fought Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 302 and finished the fight in the fifth round. His head coach, Javier Mendes, was spotted dwelling on the impact of Khabib’s presence during the fight.
Javier Mendes on Khabib Nurmagomedov’s impact
Javier Mendes has been coaching the whole Dagestani camp since the start. He was spotted on the cage side when Khabib used to fight and is always omnipresent when Islam is in the octagon. This time around, he was accompanied by Khabib Nurmagomedov’s cage side. Javier Mendes talked about Khabib’s impact on Islam’s fight. Mendes said,
Khabib’s an unbelievable corner. He gives out unbelievable advice.
Mendes clarified that Khabib, having fought at the highest level, gives some solid advice between rounds. Mendes revealed that the Eagle was passionate in the cage and shouted instructions to Islam Makhachev in the octagon. When Javier told Khabib to calm down, Nurmagomedov told Javier to shout instead. It’s quite heartening to see Khabib’s passion for mixed martial arts.
Nurmagomedov was ecstatic when Islam won by finishing Dustin in the fifth round of the fight. Khabib advised Islam Makhachev not to let Poirier win the fifth round of the fight and finish it then and there. Islam followed suit by putting Dustin in a tight D’Arce choke and retaining his Lightweight title. It will be interesting to see what happens in the future with Islam and who he will take on next in the cage.
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Since retiring in 2020 after defending his belt for the third and final time, Khabib has donned the role of a coach in the cage.
ALSO READ: When Did Khabib Nurmagomedov Beat Dustin Poirier?
