This Saturday, Khabib Nurmagomedov will have the biggest night of his coaching career yet at UFC 311.
After shockingly retiring from MMA while at the height of his powers in 2020, Khabib Nurmagomedov turned his attention to coaching where, much like his fighting career, he has become one of the best in the world.
Khabib submitted Justin Gaethje in the second round of their title unification fight at UFC 254, and after the fight, Nurmagomedov announced that he would not continue his career without his late father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.
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Khabib Nurmagomedov admits coaching is a 'headache' as he prepares for UFC 311
Instead of continuing his fighting career, the 36-year-old decided to continue the legacy of his father's gym, Eagles MMA, where he has become a top coach alongside Javier Mendez of the American Kickboxing Academy.
'The Eagle' has already coached both Usman Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev to championship gold during his short tenure as head coach.
In the UFC 311 co-main event next Saturday, he will look to add a new fighter to his list of title winners as Umar Nurmagomedov looks to dethrone bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili in what has turned into a huge grudge match.
And then in the main event, lightweight champion Makhachev will defend his title in a rematch against Arman Tsarukyan that was six years in the making.
It promises to be an extremely busy night for Khabib, who will be in the corner for both fights and a fight in the early prelims, including his fighter Tagir Ulanbekov. The former UFC lightweight champion has admitted that he finds life as a coach more difficult than life as a fighter.
“I didn't know (coaching) would be so hard because when I was fighting it was easier for me,” Khabib admitted in an interview with ESPN MMA.
“Because I was prepared myself, when I went to the cage, I was fighting and I had control over everything that happened, but this, this coaching life, is completely different from fighting life, because I can only talk, I can't do anything, I I can just give advice to my brothers and stay out of the cage… That's why it gives me a bit of a headache,” he continued.
Khabib Nurmagomedov explains his coaching style
Ahead of the big night on January 18, Khabib received some criticism from his coaching partner Javier Mendez, who admitted that their roles together are a 'work in progress'.
Mendez recalled an example during Makhachev's title defense against Dustin Poirier, when Khabib wouldn't let him talk between rounds, which he nipped in the bud with the dominant former champion.
As a coach, Khabib becomes quite animated, which only makes sense considering he's cornering family members and people he's known all his life.
With this, 'The Eagle' explained his coaching style and why he likes to stay in shape despite being alone in the corner.
“I'm going to be ready, you know, you also have to be in good shape to give confidence to your fighters as well, because a lot of people don't understand energy. Everyone gives energy, some people give good energy or bad energy. It's like I have to give my fighters good energy, I have to be in good shape too,” he explained.
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