MENDEZ SAYS KHABIB ‘ON POINT’ IN TRAINING FOR GAETHJE
▶ Nurmagomedov’s longtime coach provides an insight into the Russian’s preparations for his toughest battle
Into the fourth week of his Dubai camp, and not long now until that eagerly-awaited return in Abu Dhabi, coach Javier Mendez is pleased with what he sees in Khabib Nurmagomedov.
His star pupil is relaxed but revelling in his work, focus firmly on Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, a unification bout that marks the lightweight champion’s first competitive appearance in 13 months.
The headline confrontation of a stellar Fight Island series in the capital, Nurmagomedov has been preparing for his latest challenge under the tutelage of Mendez at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex, a facility that he has grown well accustomed to.
Getting not just used to but extremely comfortable is key for any fighter. “Things are going great, we’re almost ready to go,” Mendez said, between another day of morning and afternoon sessions. “The game face is still some time away right now.
“It’s just getting geared up to doing five hard, good rounds and staying healthy, staying strong, and making sure weight’s on point. Right now, that’s what we’re focusing on, and working on the game-plan execution and making sure he’s healthy.
“Shape-wise, Khabib’s where he’s always been. It’s just like clockwork. We’re right on point on this fight, like we were last time.”
Last time feels some time ago. The pandemic has prevented Nurmagomedov, 32 last month, from defending his lightweight crown since he submitted then-interim champion Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 in September last year.
It was another pressurised unification bout that played out in Abu Dhabi.
The emirate and neighbouring Dubai have featured squarely in the Nurmagomedov story these past few years.
The Dagestan native, whose professional record reads 28-0, has become a frequent visitor to the UAE, meeting and interacting with the royal family and growing close to a number of people in the Emirates.
“It’s like family here,” Mendez says. “It’s why Khabib’s so comfortable here. The hospitality of how they take care of him, in Abu Dhabi and here, is second to none. And it’s like a second home to me.”
The facilities at the NAS Complex help, too.
“It’s the greatest place to have a training camp, especially if you have all your people with you,” Mendez says.
“NAS is the greatest facility in the world, and we’re given the greatest treatment. So many people have done a great job for us. So many.”
Chief among those are Emirati Ahmad Jaber Al Harbi – “he’s the one that took care of us with everything. He’s become a really great friend, I love that guy” – and Umidjon Mavlyanov, the well-connected Uzbek known affectionately as “Omar”. Mendez has plans to put together a documentary with Mavlyanov to showcase Dubai.
Downtime has been spent either resting or taking in the sights, be it on bicycle, horseback or a six-hour boat ride around the Dubai coast. It all lends itself to Nurmagomedov feeling re- energised, which, Mendez says, serves him well in the lead-up to UFC 254 on October 24. For the American Kickboxing Academy founder, who began working with the figher in 2012, a content Nurmagomedov makes for a constructive camp.
“Khabib’s had his best fights when he’s laughing and goofing around in the back and being relaxed,” Mendez says. “One time I was so concerned with him, I said, “Khabib, get serious.” He goes, “Coach, I am serious”, and he goes out there and destroys.
“And so now it’s like every time that I see him smiling and having a good time, man, it’s performance time. When I see him stressed, it could be bad because he’s too worried. But him being happy is great.”
Undoubtedly, Nurmagomedov and his team respect the threat posed by Gaethje (22-2, 5-2 in UFC). The dominant display against Tony Ferguson to claim the interim belt at UFC 249 in May underlined his skillset, “The Highlight” producing another performance for the reel to set up the Abu Dhabi tussle with Nurmagomedov.
“Justin Gaethje is an extremely tough opponent,” Mendez says. “He’s dangerous, and so dangerous with the low kick. He’s one of the best low-kickers I’ve probably ever seen in the lightweight division, probably out of all the UFC.
“He’s not a precision striker, like a Conor [McGregor], who was very precision-based. I found Conor to be the most dangerous we’ve ever faced because the skillset Conor had is unbelievable, but Gaethje might prove me wrong. He might just go ahead and surpass that.
“I have to prepare Khabib as if Justin is the toughest, because if I don’t then I’m not doing my job. So we are preparing for the toughest competition ever. It’s not going to be an easy fight, or it could be. Either way, we’re prepared for a battle.”
Every time I see him smiling and having a good time, it’s performance time. If he’s stressed, it could be bad