Khabib Nurmagomedov was a no-nonsense UFC fighter, so it should be no surprise that translated over the coaching side of his career.
The former lightweight champion is now coaching a number of fighters,
taking over the leadership spot of his late father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, and it’s all business when the training door closes.
“When we come to the gym, when we begin our training — all of them know about this — there is no freedom of speech,” Nurmagomedov said at the World Sports Summit. “There is no freedom of speech. Everybody do what I say if I’m coach. In or out, there is no 50-50, and I try to push them very well, and if you look at the result we have in almost every organization, we have champions, and we have some of the best fighters right now.
“We are the best team, and I’m very happy. It means I’m doing a good job.”
When it comes to the competitive side of things, Nurmagomedov is looking for those who take things as seriously as possible in the gym, and out of it.
Winning and losing happens, but it’s effort that means more then anything, and that’s what Nurmagomedov looks for with his fighters and athletes.
“There are some fighters, they take it very personal, competition,” Nurmagomedov explained. “Like, when they lose competition, and right now in these days, you can see how guys, they lost the ball and they just stand. It’s like, c’mon brother, you cannot do this.
“If you’re on my team, even when I play, if we’re losing and he’s smiling, he’s going to have big problems. You have to perform. Anybody can lose, but you have to show your best. You cannot come with me on my team just laughing and smiling while we’re losing.”
After Nurmagomedov’s father passed away, “The Eagle” defended his title one last time, submitting Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in October 2020 before calling it a career. Nurmagomedov made a promise to his mother that he would move on from in-cage competition.
Nurmagomedov knew he would take over for his father, but looking around the room following his retirement is when one of the memorable lessons he learned hit him.
“We have rules, and in our rules, if you’re young, you’re always wrong,“ Nurmagomedov said. ”[Whoever] is older is always right. There are rules and you have to follow them. And somehow, when I finished my career, I become oldest on my team. … It’s like, OK. I have to take leadership. Who is going to take over? Somebody has to lead the team. You cannot just leave them alone. Today, I’ve become success, I was champion, I was on top, OK. See you guys tomorrow.
“It doesn’t work like this, and I’m like, OK. I look around [and wonder] who is here? Everyone is younger than me, and my father, he passed away, and I’m like, ‘OK, I have to take this leadership, I have to lead this team, and I have to keep continuing my father’s legacy. I understand, I’m ready for this. Some people, they are not ready.”
