Islam Makhachev, the reigning UFC lightweight champion, cemented his dominance with a fifth-round submission victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in Newark. Apart from the Dagestani’s victory, the event was special as ‘The Eagle’ made a comeback to Makhachev’s corner. After helping his friend, the former fighter is now dedicated to training his younger cousin, Umar Nurmagomedov, a rising bantamweight contender currently ranked #10 in the UFC.

The 28-year-old will feature on the main card at the UFC Fight Night event on August 3 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and is being helped by his cousin as announced by Khabib’s head coach in a recent post. Following the tragic passing of his father and coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, from COVID-19 complications in 2020, Khabib Nurmagomedov stepped away from the competition. He assumed the responsibility of leading his gym, including training Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov, as evidenced by his corner presence at UFC 302.

In his Instagram post, Coach Mendez posted a picture of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Umar Nurmagomedov with the caption, “Soon the @khabib_nurmagomedov and “Young Eagle” @umar_nurmagomedov land in for me to join camp to start our journey on to the next step to UFC Bantamweight Gold after our planned Victory Aug in 3rd Abu Dhabi Etihad Arena location sent Fathers Plan continues @gorillaenergy.rus @gorillafighting #legacyfights.”

The coach’s post highlighted Khabib’s transition into coaching, suggesting he’s embracing this new chapter. However, the extent of his commitment remains unclear. Fans are eager to see him corner Islam Makhachev, following Mendez’s recent comments. Will Khabib become a permanent fixture in Makhachev’s corner?

Khabib’s role after UFC 302 unveiled by Head Coach

A few years back, Khabib Nurmagomedov stepped down from coaching to spend time with his family. However, he continued helping Islam Makhachev by joining the training camps. In addition to coaching Makhachev, he also trained his cousin Umar Nurmagomedov and UFC welterweight contender Belal Muhammad, who is set to face Leon Edwards at the upcoming UFC 304 in England.

Moreover, Khabib actively supported Islam Makhachev in his corner during UFC 302. However, questions remain about his future role. In a recent interview, head coach Javier Mandez shed some light, revealing Khabib’s future goals. He said, “He (Khabib Nurmagomedov) goes, ‘I’ll be there for Islam (Makhachev), and I’ll be there for some of the top guys,’ so he is going to work corner, he never said he was not going to work corners, he said that for right now, he wants to spend time with his family.”

Nonetheless, the extent of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s coaching ambitions remains unclear. Will he follow in his father’s footsteps and become a dedicated coach, or will he prioritize his role as a family man? What do you think? Let us know in the comments.