“Similar to what Ali did,” when boxing coach praise Khabib Nurmagomedov & recalls how it all started for the future of Dagestan

Khabib Nurmagomedov is that one man with a larger than life persona, ask his former coach Javier Mendez about it. The man that is considered by many as the greatest UFC lightweight of all time, retired undefeated in 2020 with an undefeated record of 29-0. Nurmagomedov’s wins include the likes of Rafael Dos Anjos, Gleison Tibau, Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, Edson Barboza and Michael Johnson.

After his fighting career was done, Khabib made sure he was always on his teammates’ aid one way or the other, either by cornering them or just staying in the backstage for their support. Just a month after his retirement, Khabib went on to purchase an MMA promotion and turn it upside down into a massive name in the MMA World by the name of Eagle FC that is now home to numerous combat sports superstars. His influence upon the sport of MMA is inevitable and legendary, for someone who knows him closely, it’s like witnessing some resemblance of boxing great Muhammad Ali.

Javier Mendez recalls Khabib Nurmagomedov’s first steps inside AKA

On Khabib’s Youtube Channel, American Kickboxing Academy Founder and Head Coach Javier Mendez talked about how it all started that he became a household name for Dagestani fighters as he trains one of Khabib’s closest ally Islam Makhachev ahead of UFC on Vegas 49 this week as Makhachev faces a late replacement in Bobby Green.

“When Khabib first came, it was just him,” says Mendez “I was unsure of anything, all I knew that Khabib was special but I don’t know how special… I told him there’s something about you I don’t know what it is, but it’s similar to what Muhammad Ali did because he was Muslim also and you are too and I think there’s a calling for you, I don’t know what it is yet but yeah, there’s a calling for you,“ concludes coach Mendez.

Now the unexpected came in for coach Mendez and all of Khabib’s brothers, friends and more so many fighters from Dagestan are training to elevate their striking under coach Mendez. This only adds up to the status Mendez is going to have as an all time great mind of MMA when it’s all said and done from his side.

What do you make of this analogy of Khabib’s aura being done by coach Mendez? Where do you put Khabib amongst the greatest of all time? Also, what do you think should be next for Islam Makhachev if he defeats Bobby Green this weekend at UFC on Vegas 49?

Also Read: “Not cared about winning,” Bobby Green explains what makes his fighting style more exciting than Islam Makhachev ahead of UFC Vegas 49

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