Khabib Nurmagamedov’s Coach Has Explained That They Have No Special Gameplan To Beat Conor McGregor… He’s Just Going To Do What He Does Does Best…
Not only is it one of the most highly-anticipated UFC fights of all time, it’s also one of the most interesting. UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagamedov against former ‘champ-champ’ Conor McGregor in a classic grudge match of grappler against a striker. There’s set to be fireworks in Las Vegas on November 6, when these two rivals finally clash.
While Conor McGregor’s team are believed to be heavily analyzing Khabib’s previous fights, and working on a specially tailored programme to defeat the Dagestani fighter, ‘The Eagle’ is still working on what he does best.
That’s according to AKA coach Javier Mendez, who insists that they have no special gameplan to beat the Notorious. Nurmagamedov is 26-0 for a reason. He’s proven to be brutally efficient throughout his MMA career so far. Why should they make life difficult by fixing what isn’t broken?
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Elite Team
Although he often trains in his native Russia, Khabib usually trains out of the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California. There he trains with champions and former champions like Daniel Cormier, Luke Rockhold, and Cain Velasquez. That’s as good a stable as any in the game.
Cormier has said in the past that Khabib regularly wrestles and grapples with his heavyweight training partners – and often beats them. Don’t forget that he is scarily big for the lightweight division. He’s struggled to make weight in the past, but since recruiting a nutritionist there haven’t been any problems.
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On Point
AKA coach Javier Mendez is one of Khabib’s most important mentors. He told Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show that they have no special plan to beat McGregor. They’re just going to do what they do best and maintain concentration. He said:
“There is no gameplan. We can’t stand with him, we’re gonna lose that one for sure but keep in mind that Khabib can hurt him the standup too – but, in route of doing what he needs to do. If he stands with him, we’re losing that all-day long, we’re not winning that one at all.
“He has great power, great timing, great relaxation. It’s just the timing thing that concerns me early on. He’s very good off-the-bat. Whoever screws up is going to get a bad end with this one, so my job is to make sure that Khabib is on point because we can’t screw up. He’s too dangerous.”
Makes Sense
In fairness it makes sense. Mendez isn’t here to entertain the fans. He’s realistic about what Khabib needs to do. Standing and banging with McGregor will only end one way. he needs to fight this fight on his terms and not mess about like he did in the later rounds against Al Iaquinta.
This will be an absolutely fascinating contest. This will truly be an elite caliber fight between two of the most interesting personalities in the sport. The build-up to this one will be absolutely immense.
