'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#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.
Trending
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
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.
