Javier Mendez has been withdrawn after he suggests that Islam Makhachev could quickly retire.
Earlier this week, the AKA founder shocked everyone by claiming that his Star student could retire after three more fights.
Islam Makhachev replied by stating that he 'just starts' to close MMA.
Now Javier Mendez has clarified his earlier comments after he had caused an enormous excitement at UFC fans.
Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
The coach of Islam Makhacheve
Mendez claims that his three-fight pension suggestion was just a gamble.
After working with Khabib Nurmagomedov, who retired at the age of 32, and his deceased father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, the renowned MMA coach assumed that Makhachev would stop fighting at the age of 35.
However, Mendez has now admitted that he had no internal knowledge of the 33-year-old pension plan.
“People get that out of the context,” he maintained. “I said he might fight 3 more times.
“Not in those exact words, I said that, but I did not say that Islam said that. I think because I was involved with Khabib's father, talking about how fighters should stop at the age of 35. So I actually assume that Islam would think about retirement at that specific age.
“From a realistic point of view, he can have 7-8 fights. It depends on what Islam wants. It is not what coach wants. He is the driver, not me.
“I am not saying that he is retiring … I just assumed that there can be three fights, but there can be six, seven or four. It can be any amount, I don't know.”
What is the next step for Islam Makhachev?
Last month Makhachev left its UFC light weight title, which confirmed his move to good weight.
The largest 155 pound Jager of all time is expected to be confronted against Jack della Maddalena later this year.
170LB gold will be at stake when they collide, but it is currently unclear when or where they will fight.
Former champion with double weight Henry Cejudo recently suggested that they will fight in October.
From now on there has been no official update about Della Maddalena vs Makhachev.