"Come to help, not for money" - Islam Makhachev reveals why team Khabib Nurmagomedov is the "best team in the world" in the leadup to UFC 311

Islam Makhachev has hailed the training team assembled by his friend and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov as the very best in the MMA world. He said as much in a recent interview with SHAK MMA ahead of his UFC 311 headliner with Arman Tsarukyan, against whom he will defend the lightweight title.

It is Makhachev's belief that the camaraderie the team experiences is unlike any other, as his teammates don't turn up for paychecks. Instead, they lend their assistance as training partners out of the goodness of their hearts and a desire to see the team succeed.

"We have best team in the world. That's why we have lot of top guys. We have lot of high-level fighters. We have best team, best coaches, and important thing, they all wish each other the best, you know? We here to help each other. We have more than 20 people here, and everybody come to help, not for money, not for nothing, just help to our brother, to our friends to be champion."

Check out Islam Makhachev praising his team (7:59):

Both Makhachev and Nurmagomedov train at the American Kickboxing Academy, which has the highest profile of Dagestani fighters in the world. At least at the highest level. Now, Makhachev has a potentially historic fight next weekend, as he takes on Tsarukyan in a highly anticipated rematch.

He has already tied the lightweight division's record for consecutive title defenses, which is currently held by both him and Nurmagomedov, as well as three other notable lightweights in Frankie Edgar, Benson Henderson, and the great B.J. Penn. Now, he has the chance to score an unprecedented fourth title defense.

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Islam Makhachev trains at one of the most successful gyms in MMA

The American Kickboxing Academy has produced more than its fair share of world champions, and they aren't exclusively Dagestani. Of course, Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov have maintained a stranglehold over the UFC lightweight title. But their retired teammates have done similarly well.

Luke Rockhold had a short stint as the UFC middleweight champion, while Cain Velasquez had a memorable run as a two-time UFC heavyweight champion. Daniel Cormier, menawhile, became the first two-division UFC champion at the gym, capturing light heavyweight and heavyweight gold.

Now, Umar Nurmagomedov is set to challenge Merab Dvalishvili for UFC bantamweight gold at UFC 311. Elsewhere, his brother Usman Nurmagomedov reigns as the current Bellator lightweight champion.