Former UFC light-weight champion, Eagle FC promoter, and highly-regarded MMA coach Khabib Nurmagomedov made a fast and hasty exit from fight sports activities earlier this month, opting to spend extra time together with his household after practically a decade of Octagon excellence.
The choice got here as a shock to most UFC followers contemplating the timing of his departure. Nurmagomedov’s closest buddy and prime pupil, Islam Makhachev, is just some weeks in entrance of his light-weight title protection reverse featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski.
“He knowledgeable me about three weeks out that that is what he needs to do,” American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) head coach Javier Mendez instructed Submission Radio. “He needs to spend time with household, and I’m 100% with him on what he needs to do and the explanations he needs to do it. He by no means stated ‘eternally’ nevertheless it’s gonna be awhile, I’d think about. Except one thing occurs the place he actually misses it or actually feels he’s wanted, however proper now I feel all people is sweet together with his choice and really pleased for him.”
UFC 284 takes place on Feb. 12 in Perth, Western Australia, however airs on Feb. 11 in the USA because of the discrepancy in time zones. The optimistic Mendez doesn’t anticipate Nurmagomedov’s absence to have any influence on the efficiency of Makhachev.
“I miss him, I’m at all times wanting him to be round,” Mendez continued. “It was nice for me to have somebody that nice [in our corner]. I’ve been in Islam’s nook since 2015. Not having Khabib there, it’s nice having him there and I need him there, however I’m okay with him not being there both, as a result of Islam Makhachev is such a terrific pupil of the sport and he is aware of what to do. Formulate the gameplan, give him the gameplan, and he goes out and executes.”
Makhachev is at present the -315 betting favourite.
