Javier Mendez, coach to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev, knows that there are plenty of comparisons between the two. Nurmagomedov and Makhachev boast similar fighting styles, both hail from Dagestan, and competed in the same weight class. Makhachev’s rise through the lightweight division came hot on the heels of Khabib’s retirement, and Khabib has long mentored Islam Makhachev. However, Mendez insisted on a recent episode of The MMA Hour that Islam Makhachev “never wanted to be Khabib”.
“[Makhachev] never copied [Nurmagomedov] from the beginning and he never felt pressure from the beginning. Islam was Islam right from the get go. He knew what he was going to do.
Coach: Makhachev “Never Wanted to Be Khabib”
He knew his path and he had an example in Khabib to follow, but he wasn’t following in Khabib’s footsteps. It was Islam’s footsteps. It was his own identity.”
Mendez cited some key differences between the two, such as Makhachev’s lack of a nickname and love of dirt biking.
“For instance, Islam doesn’t have tag lines. He doesn’t have great lines that he says. Islam is not out there doing what Khabib does. They’re complete opposites. Islam is an adventure type guy. He’s more of a ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone in regards to activity outside of fighting. He loves horse riding, dirt riding, and things of that nature.
They’re completely different and Islam has been 100-percent comfortable in his role, and he’s never wanted to be Khabib and always felt he was Islam. Also, keep in mind, he doesn’t have a nickname and he never wanted a nickname. I tried to nickname him one time and Islam said, ‘No, coach, my name is Islam,’ and I said OK.”
However, one thing the pair do have in common is their “championship DNA”. “You knew right away he had championship DNA.
One-hundred percent. He showed it right away. He was extremely gifted back then, also. He just needed more time and more work, but he had it all.
Islam is the perfect student. He knows what he’s doing, he knows what he wants and he puts in the work. Doesn’t complain. He’s perfect. I can’t say anything other than that, because that’s what he is. Very thoughtful about other people.”
Only days out from Makhachev’s first title shot at UFC 280, Mendez is feeling confident. “I feel good about the matchup, and honestly, I feel good about him with anybody because he’s so well-rounded. We can play any way we want to play with him.
He’s going to do anything we ask him to do and he’s able to do it. We’ll see come fight time. Just one thing to keep note, one fight in Las Vegas we had a game plan in place and right as we’re coming out of the gate, I tell Khabib I think we’re probably stronger on the grappling, let’s just go with [his] father’s plan [Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov], and we did just as we were walking out. We changed to father’s plan and it worked out perfect.”
