Coaches are supposed to be the regulators and enhancers of team spirit right? Well, it seems that is not always the case. UFC athletes generally hear hollering and cheers from fans inside the octagon, or some trash talks from their opponents. But was there any time when a coach was involved in the trash-talking? Javier Mendez does not recall to his knowledge. We still had a déjà vu moment and saw a feud happen at UFC 306 when O’Malley’s coach Tim Welch said something to Merab Dvalishvili who later burst out on the coach.

There is another iconic incident just like this that happened at UFC 229. Let’s walk down memory lane and recall what happened because Javier Mendez does not recall joining the beef!

Javier Mendez reveals what Conor had said to Khabib.

Javier Mendez came onto YouTube and spoke at length about the grand event of UFC Noche. Now when you are talking about UFC 306 you will mention the slight feud between Welch and Dvalishvili during the match. So this is what Len and Khabib ‘s coach spoke about as well. Mendez vehemently denied it and said that he never got involved in corner trash-talking because he believes that a coach should be the pacifier and control emotions. Besides it was also illegal to do such a thing!

But he did spill a secret about McGregor and what he said to Khabib during the fight. The coach recalled, “ Khabib was mad at the corner of Conor Camp but none of us guys would talk to the counter guys. I don’t recall you know. Khabib was yeah of course. He had an issue with Dillon Danis and you know Conor. He had an issue with Danis but I don’t recall. I never had words with any of those guys.  Conor Dillon or any of them.”

Let’s take a trip down memory lane to one of the wildest nights in UFC history—UFC 229. It was anything but a typical event. Khabib Nurmagomedov was set to defend his 155-pound belt against the brash and outspoken Conor McGregor, but this fight had more layers of tension than most. The buildup was intense, fueled by the infamous bus attack at UFC 223 where McGregor hurled a steel dolly at Nurmagomedov’s bus, shattering windows and escalating their rivalry to a boiling point. This was more than just a title defense—it was personal.

When the two finally stepped into the Octagon, the electricity was palpable. Khabib delivered a dominant performance, ultimately submitting McGregor via neck crank in the fourth round. But it wasn’t just the fight that had people talking. The real story unfolded in the moments between punches. As Khabib rained down fists on McGregor, he began taunting him mid-fight, saying things like, “Let’s talk now!” A desperate McGregor responded with, “It’s only business,” but Khabib was having none of it. The fight ended, but the drama was far from over.

In a shocking turn of events, Khabib leaped out of the cage after the victory and launched himself at McGregor’s teammate, Dillon Danis, sparking an all-out brawl in the crowd. Chaos ensued, with both teams clashing in and out of the cage, and the fighters eventually being escorted out of the T-Mobile Arena by the police.

After the madness settled, Khabib addressed the situation, apologizing to the Nevada State Athletic Commission but making his feelings clear. “This is not my best side,” he admitted. “But he talked about my religion, my country, my father. He came to Brooklyn, broke a bus, and nearly killed two people. So why are people still talking about me jumping over the cage?” Khabib explained that McGregor’s insults had crossed the line, attacking his country and religion and that while he regretted the post-fight brawl, his actions were fueled by the disrespect he felt from McGregor’s trash talk. He wanted MMA to be a sport of respect, not one of cheap shots and personal attacks.

It was one of the most intense moments in UFC history, setting a new standard for the sport’s biggest rivalries. And while the recent feud between Merab Dvalishvili and Tim Welch may not have reached the same chaotic heights, it certainly had its level of heat.

Now, let’s shift gears and dive into the present to see what’s cooking!

Merab Dvalishvili lashed out at Tim Welch but why?

‘The Machine’ is the new bantamweight champion after a dominant performance over Sean O’Malley. He won via unanimous decision and the Georgian dethroned the reigning champ but things were not so easy for the usually calm Dvalishvili. He got into a heated argument with Tim Welch from O’Malley’s corner. Things escalated so much that referee, Herb Dean had to intervene and make the Georgian focus on the fight.

What happened was revealed by ‘The Machine’ at the post-fight presser. Tim Welch was breaking the fighter’s focus constantly by speaking to him and trash-talking. He mentioned that this is something that would not go unpunished in the football or basketball world. Naturally, he lost his composure and took matters into his own hands when no one was stopping Welxh.

He said, “Yeah, I was in, and I was fighting. I’m a professional fighter, you know; I’m focused. And it never happens to me, and I never pay attention to another corner. But Tim’s voice was very familiar because he was doing the same thing to AlJo; there is the clip, and video out there on social media. Everybody, we saw that. He was doing the same thing as he was doing very disrespectful way. “Merab, you gotta go.”

After the feud was controlled, ‘The Machine’ channeled his anger in the right way and defeated O’Malley to take the belt for himself. Just like Nurmagomedov had defeated McGregor, history repeated itself and the Georgian got his victory. What do you think about this incident? Is it okay for coaches to get involved in the trash-talking? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.