Even after retirement, Khabib Nurmagomedov always predicted his team’s success would prevail. For the first time in UFC history, UFC 311 will showcase two of Dagestan’s finest fighters competing in title bouts. Everything appears to be unfolding according to ‘Father’s Plan’—a phrase coined by Khabib Nurmagomedov and coach Javier Mendez to honor the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.

As anticipated, Khabib is heavily involved in training both UFC 311 fighters and will be there to support them during the fight. The former lightweight champion is one of the hardest taskmasters and shows no sympathy in training camps. Thus, Islam Makhachev remains aware of this fact and wants Daniel Cormier to help him!

Islam Makhachev feels only Daniel Cormier can control Khabib Nurmagomedov

Islam Makhachev and his team also share a very cordial relationship with Daniel Cormier, often seen around being part of their camps. The current champion wants ‘DC’ to come in and stop ‘The Eagle’. MMA. Pros. Pick shared the video of their funny conversation on their X account. During the video, the former dual champion reminded Makhachev, “Khabib told me he is here. He told me to tell you guys be ready.”

Makhachev, with a grim smile, replied, “Ya Ya he send message to the group. Guys, be ready. Maybe you can come join us and control him a little bit because he don’t listen to Javier. I always tell Javier you are the head coach. You are older to him to stop him.” Cormier has been a longtime friend with ‘The Eagle’ but even he feels he can’t control him and says, ” No, he’s just a psychopath nobody can control him. I can’t control him.” 

Khabib’s Dagestani team has always been tightly knit, growing, training, and standing by each other through every step of their journey. Over the years, Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov have shared countless moments, both in their early days and now in the UFC, some of which fans may already know about. However, with ‘The Eagle’ as the coach, the team can expect nothing but hard work in the build-up to the clash. Yes, the pair is aware of it!

A typical day for the former lightweight champion often involves grueling wrestling, sambo, and striking sessions, accompanied by intense cardio workouts in the mountains. He frequently makes his fighters grapple with stronger, larger opponents to refine their technique and increase their endurance. Try Bears, some would say, but training at high altitudes helps to build stamina, making them an unstoppable force in the cage.

The champion knows he will be up against a very formidable opponent in Arman Tsarukyan next in his career. As a result, he would leave no stone unturned in his preparation and put in all the work required. But it is not only the champion who is putting in the hard yards in preparation. The Armenian fighter has teamed up with Adriano Martins, the fighter who once knocked out Makhachev.

Will this make any difference? Head coach Javier Mendez doesn’t quite feel so.

Javier Mendez feels no fighter can replicate the skill levels of Makhachev

Is it actually possible to prepare for Islam Makhachev by studying the lone loss on his nearly flawless record? For Arman Tsarukyan, it appears to be a strategy worth exploring. In 2015, a young and promising Islam Makhachev entered the Octagon at UFC 192 to face Adriano Martins. Contrary to popular belief, this wasn’t Makhachev’s UFC debut, but it did mark his only career loss. Martins delivered a perfectly timed right hook that connected cleanly, finishing the fight in under two minutes. Nearly a decade later, that moment is still a topic of conversation, but not for the reasons one might expect.

In fact, Javier Mendez is quick to shut down the significance of that moment entirely. While speaking on the ‘Submission Radio’ show he said, “I think it’s worthless, only because Adriano got a good left hook in as he [Islam] shot in, and it landed right on the money. And it’s worthless. I mean, that’s one shot, that wasn’t a fight. So you know, I think it’s worthless.”

 Coach Mendez essentially pointed out that the fight ended too quickly to draw any meaningful conclusions about the skill levels of both fighters. While Martins has teamed up with ‘Ahalkalakets,’ Mendez remains unconvinced that it will make a significant difference.

What’s your take? Does Tsarukyan’s collaboration with Martins give him an advantage, or is it all just for show? Could this be the fight that finally exposes the champion’s weaknesses? Share your thoughts in the comments below!