SURREY, British Columbia – Khabib Nurmagomedov is still very much involved in the preparation of his teammates’ fights.
Nurmagomedov, who retired from MMA in October 2020, also relieved his duties as a cornerman. However, the former lightweight champion and UFC Hall of Famer says that doesn’t mean he no longer helps his team.
“The Eagle” is still heavily involved in the training camps for the likes of current UFC lightweight champ Islam Makhachev, Bellator champ Usman Nurmagomedov, UFC bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov, and many others.
“It’s not like I’m retired from coaching,” Nurmagomedov said Thursday during an appearance for Class A Events in Canada. “Sometimes I go to the gym, I share my knowledge, my experience, with all my brothers. It’s not about, ‘I’m retiring from coaching,’ but with cornering, fight week, everything, with this kind of stuff, I’m done.
“But I’m still sharing my knowledge and experience with my brothers. This is one of the most important things in my life right now before I maybe become 40, because I still have things to share with them. Grappling, wrestling, some mental things. I still coach my brothers.”
Nurmagomedov, 35, hung up his gloves as an undefeated fighter. Although most of his teammates are often on the winning side, unlike him, some have tasted defeat. And Nurmagomedov admits it’s a challenge to guide athletes through those moments, even if it’s hard for him to relate.
“This is all about the fighter,” Nurmagomedov said. “If mentally he’s weak, it doesn’t matter. Even if he’s going to win, he’s going to change. This is all about mental. Sometimes when fighters lose, this is better for him than winning because it’s not about, all the time, winning.
“But, when fighters lose, what can I say? I tell him you have to fix your mistakes and come back stronger. Calm down, stay relaxed, if you’re going to keep training hard, your time will come, but you have to be patient.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov clarifies that he’s done with cornering, not coaching