Khabib Nurmagomedov is downright honest about how he feels about coaching some of the best fighters in Mixed Martial Arts after his Hall of Fame career.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is weeks away from what will likely be one of the busiest nights of his life. At UFC 311, his cousin Umar will battle Merab Dvalishvili for the bantamweight belt in the co-main, and his main protégé Islam Makhachev will headline a rematch against Arman Tsarukyan.
Since leaving fighting in 2020, Nurmagomedov has turned his full-time attention to advising some of the top names in MMA. From newcomers to established elites like Makhachev and Umar, Nurmagomedov's influence as a coach is undisputed.
But even the all-time greats like Nurmagomedov get burned out by the constant grind that comes with MMA, especially as a leader of men.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images
Khabib Nurmagomedov makes powerful admissions about coaching fighters
During Demetrious Johnson's training session with Nurmagomedov and his team, Johnson asked Nurmagomedov if he enjoys coaching.
“No, I don't like this [stress]said Nurmagomedov. “But I have to be here. It will be a big night for us on January 18th. Umar for the title, Islam defends his belt.
“I need to be here, but I don't like it. 40 days [of camp]I don't like this.”
Nurmagomedov's admissions come despite a meteoric rise to the top of the coaching ranks in modern MMA. Top names like UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad have worked under Nurmagomedov's tutelage and achieved some of the best results of their careers inside the cage.
Coach Khabib is scheduled for a long night at UFC 311
Nurmagomedov embraced the grind during his undefeated fighting career, defeating the likes of Conor McGregor, Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier. He walked away after a win over Gaethje to fulfill a promise to his mother to retire after the tragic death of his father.
Several UFC legends have transitioned to coaching full-time after finishing their fighting stints. Mike Brown and Matt Serra quickly rose through the coaching ranks after hanging up their gloves.
Nurmagomedov teams up with his longtime coach, Javier Mendez, to advise some of the best Dagestani fighters. Mendez coached Nurmagomedov during his UFC Hall of Fame career at the American Kickboxing Academy in California.
Nurmagomedov is battling a new challenge at this stage of his life: exhaustion. Ahead of what should be an eventful night at UFC 311, Nurmagomedov is ready for a break after the upcoming coaching job is completed.
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