Khabib Nurmagomedov Brutally Honest About Thing he Hates Most About Coaching UFC

There’s an aspect of coaching that UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov openly loathes, and it may even impact his ability to enjoy what could be the greatest night of his post-fight career as he guides the careers of his cousin Umar Nurmagomedov, and protege Islam Makhachev, who fight in separate bouts at the upcoming UFC 311 card — a mega-event to kickstart UFC’s year in 2025.

Khabib finished his career in 2020 when he submitted Justin Gaethje at the behind-closed-doors UFC 254 event in Abu Dhabi. After sending Gaethje to sleep with a triangle choke, Nurmagomedov removed his gloves and left them on the canvas, dropped to his knees and wept as he mourned the recent passing of his father and coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.

Since retiring, Nurmagomedov has never been far from elite UFC as he continues to work the corner of some of the top talent left in the roster, including Umar, who fights Merab Dvalishvili for the UFC bantamweight championship on the 18th of January, and Makhachev, who defends his UFC lightweight title on the same night against Arman Tsarukyan. His post-fight career, despite its rampant success, has been a source of stress for the ‘Eagle.’

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Khabib Nurmagomedov Lifts Lid on Coaching in The UFC

The ‘Eagle’ says it’s a great deal of stress that he could do without

Speaking to fellow all-time great fighter Demetrious Johnson about the pros and cons of coaching elite fighters, and whether he enjoys the role, Nurmagomedov said the following:

“No, I don’t like this [stress]. But I have to be here [as] it’s going to be a big night for us on the 18th of January. Umar for the title, Islam defends his belt. I have to be here, but I don’t like it. 40 days [of camp], I don’t like this.”

The revelation comes amid a pivotal time for Nurmagomedov. With his victories over Gaethje, Rafael dos Anjos, Al Iaquinta, Conor McGregor, and Dustin Poirier, Nurmagomedov left the sport with an unbeaten 29-0 record, and retired as a champion. But his greatest accomplishments may be yet to come, and a double victory mid-January in which we could see Umar beat Dvalishvili, and Makhachev defeat Tsarukyan, could elevate his coaching career to have parity with his achievements as a fighter.

From what Nurmagomedov says, though, it’s his coaching exploits which are far more stressful than ones in which he fought himself.