UFC 242: Khabib Nurmagomedov to Train with a Surprise Coach Ahead of Dustin Poirier Fight

Khabib Nurmagomedov will enter into the octagon in possibly the biggest fight of his career. The undisputed lightweight champion, Nurmagomedov will defend his title against the interim lightweight champion, Dustin Poirier in UFC 242, Abu Dhabi.

The pressure will be on Nurmagomedov as the entire arena will be cheering for him to win. That apart, Poirier is the toughest challenge in his UFC career. Hence Khabib’s undefeated record will be on the line too. While a win will cement his legacy, a defeat might question Khabib being the best fighter in history.

However, with Nurmagomedov’s legacy on the line, the Russian will have someone in his corner who will for sure motivate him to go out there and put the best performance of his career.

Khabib’s father and first coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov will be in his son’s corner for the title fight this weekend. In the past coach, Abdulmanap couldn’t attend his son’s fights in the US because of Visa issues. However, he is already with Khabib in Abu Dhabi and has taken the charge of the lightweight champion’s training leading into the fight with Dustin Poirer.

Arguably the best fighter in UFC history, Khabib Nurmagomedov is at the pinnacle of the sports at the moment. It all started with his training under his father’s guidance in Dagestan. The training was unconventional as we have seen him fighting a bear in childhood. However, that grueling training has made Khabib what he is today. In a recent interview, recalling his training from childhood, the lightweight champion said :

“All of my life I train hard since I begin walking. Because in my house I’ve gym. And father trains everybody who want in the village. When I find out myself I find me inside the gym.”

When Nurmagomedov was on his way to be the biggest star in UFC, he came to the US and started training in American Kickboxing Academy under the coaching of Xavier Mendes. Mendes seems to have a ton of respect for Khabib’s father as he said:
“Back in 2014 when Khabib’s father came to my gym he 100 percent gave me the thorough respect of the gym owner and controlling his son at that particular time. It was an honor to watch such a master like himself conduct himself like a professional.”

It seems AKA’s coach Xavier Mendes is returning the favor by allowing Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov to train his son before the biggest fight of his career. “Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov may not be well known in the US, but everyone knows him in Russia,” said Mendes.

It’s safe to say that Khabib Nurmagomedov is in safe hands before the monumental even, UFC 242. With his father in his corner, Khabib Nurmagomedov will be looking to defend his throne and cement his legacy as the best fighter in UFC.