Javier Mendez who mentored some of the UFC’s biggest names, including Daniel Cormier, Luke Rockhold, and BJ Penn, believes that another of his proteges could be on his way to GOAT status. Khabib Nurmagomedov, who was once the UFC lightweight champion, is on track to becoming the “greatest coach of all time” as far as Javier Mendez is concerned, as Mendez revealed in a recent UFC Unfiltered episode.
“He’s been coaching forever. Even when he was fighting, he was coaching. He’d be sparring through these five rounds and all of a sudden he’d be sitting there with us coaching the guys.
Mendez: Khabib On Track to Becoming “Greatest Coach of All Time”
He’s been doing that forever. His father had trained him from such a young age to take the responsibility over, as a fighter, as a coach, and he’s taking over his father’s footsteps.
He’s learned from me, he’s learned from his father, mostly his father. But to me, he’s on track, in my opinion, because of his age, what he’s doing, the camp I see, the fighters he has, he’s on track to being the greatest coach of all time, in my opinion. I see it. I see the writing on the wall.”
Khabib will be cornering his protege, Islam Makhachev, in the main event at UFC 280. Khabib retired with a 29-0 record following the death of his father, removing himself from competition. Although he has mentored Islam Makhachev for years, Khabib recently discussed that he does not see himself as a coach.
“You mentioned ‘senior mentor,’ and that’s the closest to what I am. But I wouldn’t call myself a coach, since I was never their coach. We all trained together and had a coach. I still train with them a little. I visit the gyms when I have time.
Some days I’m busy in the day, but I may call someone over at night to wrestle at home. I think I’m more the senior mentor. I’m the oldest among them, and often have to take matters into my own hands. I feel like there are many instances where I can share my knowledge and experience.”
Khabib, since retiring, has shown no signs of returning to the Octagon. Instead, he has embraced a role on the sidelines, helping the next generation of MMA greats in achieving their dreams.
Do you think Javier Mendez is right about Khabib? Is Khabib just being humble? Let us know what you think in the comments.
