Back in 2023, whispers of an underground grappling showdown in Kazakhstan sent the MMA community into a frenzy. The buzz? A covert clash between Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Dagestani crew and Craig Jones’ renegade B-Team. Though ‘The Eagle’ wasn’t stepping on the mat himself, rumors swirled that he was coaching from the sidelines with his usual intensity. The speculation only intensified after key B-Team members—Nicky Rodriguez, Ethan Crelinsten, and Damien Anderson—dropped cryptic confirmations.

Still, despite all the noise, no footage surfaced. No official word. The supposed event drifted into myth, a footnote in MMA lore that quietly faded into obscurity… or so it seemed. Fast forward to now, and Craig Jones hasn’t slowed down one bit. As the grappling mastermind behind Alexander Volkanovski, he’s still a fixture in the elite combat sports scene. His latest project? Sharpening the ground game of Aussie welterweight star Jack Della Maddalena, who’s gearing up for a high-stakes title tilt against the tireless, iron-willed Belal Muhammad.

True to form, Jones has injected plenty of personality into the fight buildup. A recent post showed him drilling with Della Maddalena, cheekily captioned: “On a mission from God to save the welterweight division from Belal Muhammad.” And they didn’t stop at playful banter—Jones and Maddalena have taken direct shots at Muhammad and his team. But today, the trash talk hit a new level. Jones posted a video pasting the American’s face onto a punching machine, urging the Aussie title challenger to ‘break his chin’ come UFC 315. Never one to back down, the Palestine export clapped back with a savage line of his own: “I’m gonna do you like Khabib did Danis after the fight.”

That comeback wasn’t just witty—it was loaded with meaning. Muhammad’s bond with Nurmagomedov runs deep. The former lightweight king isn’t just a mentor to ‘Bully B’—he’s played a crucial role in honing his game, helping mold him into the top contender he is today. Over time, Belal has become a respected part of ‘The Eagle’s tight-knit Dagestani circle. And that UFC 229 reference? A gut-punch of nostalgia for fight fans. While most tuned in for Khabib vs. Conor, it was the chaos after the fight that made history.

With tensions boiling over, Khabib Nurmagomedov vaulted over the Octagon to confront McGregor’s teammate, Dillon Danis, who’d spent the bout taunting him from cageside, triggering an all-out melee that drew in security and law enforcement. Now, years later, as Jones aligns with Della Maddalena and ramps up the mind games, all eyes are on Muhammad. What’s it really like to train under one of the most disciplined and feared fighters in MMA history? Let’s hear it straight from the source!

Belal Muhammad opened up about what it’s like to train with Islam Makhachev under Khabib

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s former coach, Javier Mendez, had already dismissed talks that the Hall of Famer’s involvement in Muhammad’s training was gigantic. While the AKA head honcho revealed that Khabib spent under two weeks with ‘Bully B’, ‘The Eagle’ set the record straight—credit rightfully belongs to Belal’s longtime coaches (Louis Taylor and Mike Valle), the ones who helped guide him to a statement win over Leon Edwards at UFC 304. Still, many within the MMA world believe it was the UFC Hall of Famer’s mentorship that finally brought Muhammad’s potential to life after years of flying under the radar.

These days, Nurmagomedov isn’t just a mentor—he’s like a “big brother” to Muhammad. Alongside his team, he treats Belal like family. Even Islam Makhachev has acknowledged ‘The Eagle’s subtle yet powerful presence. Noting that while his coaching may not be constant, its influence runs deep. Muhammad himself opened up about what it’s like to train under Khabib Nurmagomedov’s watch back in 2023.

Reflecting on his experience, he said: “Training with those guys—I tell people all the time—unless you’ve rolled with someone from Dagestan, you don’t really know what it’s like. It’s not normal… It’s like quicksand. You think you’re escaping, but you’re just sinking deeper. I’ve always been good at flow rolling, but with them? Man, it’s a whole different level.”

Now, with tensions rising between Craig Jones and Belal Muhammad, the spotlight is shifting. Could Jack Della Maddalena’s upcoming title shot be the moment that settles the score between the two camps? Or will it only add fuel to the fire? What do you think—does this fight end the feud, or is it just getting started? Sound off below.