Khabib Nurmagomedov 'on track to being the greatest coach of all time' says Javier Mende

According to Javier Mendez, Khabib Nurmagomedov will go down in history not just as a great fighter but also as a great coach.

Since hanging up his gloves in October 2020, Nurmagomedov has taken on a coaching position. He will be in the corners of Islam Makhachev, Zubaira Tukhugov, and Belal Muhammad at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi.

However, the head of the American Kickboxing Academy, Mendez, who assisted Nurmagomedov in coaching throughout his career, claims that "The Eagle" had already been instructing boxers before he retired.

“He’s been coaching forever,” Mendez said on the UFC Unfiltered podcast. “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. 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.”

When Makhachev challenges Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title in the main event of UFC 280 on October 22 at Etihad Arena, Nurmagomedov will have the chance to assist in the cornering of his first world champion.