Not many people in the West had even heard of Dagestan almost a decade ago. Today, the word has become synonymous with toughness, world-class wrestling, and dominance, especially in the MMA world. The reason for this is simple: the remote, mountainous Russian province with a population of three million is vastly overrepresented at the highest levels of MMA.

Not to mention UFC lightweight champions Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makahchev, and now Khabib’s cousin, Umar, who is a bantamweight title contender. Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, while in a conversation, spoke about the ‘secret’ behind the Dagestanis’ unprecedented success in the sport.

Javier Mendez on why the Dagestanis are so successful

MMA journalist ‘The Schmo’ talked to coach Javier Mendez days after his AKA student Umar Nurmagoemdov defeated Cory Sandhagen to become the next in line (after Merab Dvalishvili) for the 135-pound title shot. Schmo, impressed by Umar’s recent win and yet another Dagestani reaching the top, asked Mendez what was the “secret sauce” behind their success.

The AKA gym head coach gracefully gave the lion’s share of the credit to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father, Abdulmanap. An internationally renowned combat sambo coach, Abdulmanap trained not only his son Khabib from a young age but also Islam Makhachev as well as his own nephews Umar and Usman (who is the Bellator lightweight champion).

“I believe it’s his [Khabib’s] father, Abdulmanap. It was Father’s Plan and how he worked these kids from little boys on up, you know. And had he still been alive, he’d be the one doing all the interviews and talking about his kids, and you know, how do you get them to this point? I just happen to be coming in on the tail end of it, you know. I had my parts; don’t get me wrong. But this is basically Father’s Plan; that’s why I always make sure I say Father’s Plan just to respect and honor the great Abdulmanap,” he said.

Mendez felt that ‘Father’s Plan’, which is what Khabib and co. call Abdulmanap’s respective game plans for his students, gave them a blueprint for unprecedented and continuing success.In fact, ‘Father’s Plan’ has been so successful that even Umar, the only one of the four who isn’t a champion yet, is on the brink of greatness. He’s just waiting for UFC 306 to conclude so he can step in and dominate the division.

Mendez wants Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Sean O’Malley for 2025

Bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley’s historically great striking will go against Merab Dvalishvili’s indomitable wrestling in the main event of UFC 306 on September 14. The winner is likely to face Umar Nurmagomedov, who is the official #2 ranked 135-pounder after his Sandhagen win last week.

While Khabib prefers Umar fight his Caucuses brother Dvalishvili for the title, Javier Mendez disagrees. The coach feels that because of his sheer marketability and PPV potential, ‘Suga’ would be a better opponent for the undefeated Dagestani.

“Of course, you know, you would have to be foolish not to think that O’Malley would be the best choice but obviously we’re gonna fight whoever we get the opportunity to fight. But, you know, O’Malley is the bigger draw, I believe,” Mendez added.

Whoever Umar Nurmagomedov fights for the title, one thing is clear: he will be tested. Merab Dvalishvili made Henry Cejudo, an Olympic wrestling gold medalist and concurrent two-division champion, look like an amateur at their UFC 298 clash earlier this year. O’Malley on the other hand, is perhaps the best striker in the entire UFC. If Umar Nurmagomedov does manage to defeat either man and become champion, there will be no doubts that he is the best bantamweight mixed martial artist in the world.