Khabib at a UFC press conference. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC
Khabib Nurmagomedov ended his career undefeated and cemented his name among the greatest fighters in MMA history. However, in Javier Mendez's view, his legacy can still grow. Even retired since October 2020, the former UFC lightweight champion (up to 70,3kg) remains influential as a coach and continues to expand his importance to the sport.
In an interview with the YouTube channel 'WEIGHING IN', available this Thursday (6), the coach stated that Khabib's legacy continues to grow even after retirement. For the coach, the Russian is already among the greatest fighters in history and is likely to gain even more recognition over the years, mainly due to the work he has done as a coach and mentor to the new generation of athletes from Dagestan.
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'Khabib is already among the top 5 of all time, and imagine where he'll be in six years,' said Javier Mendez.
According to the coach at the American Kickboxing Academy, the fighter's impact goes far beyond his achievements inside the octagon. Mendez believes the former fighter has played a fundamental role in shaping the new generation of champions, using the experience gained during his career to guide athletes who now hold prominent positions pound-for-pound.
Khabib won and successfully defended the lightweight title three times, becoming one of the biggest names in the organization's history. Since then, he has dedicated his time to working as a coach and leader of a team that includes names like Islam Makhachev , Umar Nurmagomedov , and Usman Nurmagomedov , consolidating his influence even away from competitions.
Khabib Nurmagomedov's record in the UFC
Khabib Nurmagomedov reveals the origin of his nickname 'The Eagle'. Photo: Reproduction/X
Khabib Nurmagomedov is considered one of the greatest fighters . The Russian ended his career in October 2020, shortly after submitting Justin Gaethje and defending his UFC lightweight title for the third time. Retired undefeated, 'The Eagle' left the sport with a perfect record of 29 wins, eight by knockout, 11 by submission, and 10 by decision. He defeated Conor McGregor , Dustin Poirier , Rafael dos Anjos , and Edson Barboza.
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