“Of course, I was very nervous, you know because I love this guy. He was my father’s favorite student.” When Khabib Nurmagomedov said that after Islam Makhachev’s title-winning submission over Charles Oliveira, it wasn’t just respect. It was a passing of the torch. But just how good of a student is Makhachev, really? Well, if there’s any doubt, Javier Mendez is here to settle it once and for all.
Nurmagomedov’s former coach and the mastermind behind American Kickboxing Academy, Javier Mendez, didn’t mince words when comparing his two prized Dagestani fighters. “No, he’s not a Khabib type,” Mendez declared on the Javier & Mo Show. “Khabib’s 50/50 with me. Islam has always been 100% on point.” Wait, did he just say Makhachev is a better student than Khabib?
Before anyone starts throwing daggers, that’s not a dig at Khabib. It’s a testament to Makhachev’s insane adaptability inside the cage. Unlike ‘The Eagle’, who imposed his will with relentless pressure, Makhachev is a shape-shifter, evolving moment by moment. Mendez raved about it, “he’s not just a good student. He’s a great student.” If that sounds like a coach’s dream, it’s because it is.
MMA: UFC 311 Makhachev vs Moicano Jan 18, 2025 Inglewood, California, USA Islam Makhachev red gloves walks out for a lightweight title fight against Renato Moicano
Islam’s ability to execute mid-fight adjustments separates him from even the most elite fighters. Every coach wants a fighter who listens. But a fighter who listens and executes the perfect game plan? That’s a different breed. And Mendez makes it crystal clear, “I’ve never not asked him to do something, and he didn’t go out and do it.”
Maybe that’s exactly why the Dagestani coach always looks so tense in Islam’s corner. Unlike his own fights, where he dictated every second of the action, here he’s on the outside, watching, analyzing, knowing that Islam’s ears are tuned in, waiting for a single instruction from the zoomed-out eyes of his corner. The pressure isn’t just on Makhachev inside the cage, it’s on the team to make the right call. And maybe that’s the real weight Islam carries. Not just his own success, but the legacy of Abdulmanap, handed down to him through Khabib. Or perhaps he’s out to build something entirely his own. Either way, when it comes to greatness, there’s no dodging the pound-for-pound debate. And, boy, has that been a hot topic.
Has Mr. White finally accepted Islam Makhachev as the best?
UFC CEO Dana White spent the better part of 2024 blasting the rankings panel for favoring Makhachev over Jon Jones. For the longest time, the UFC head honcho stuck to his guns that Jon Jones should have been in the #1 spot on the P4P rankings over Islam Makhachev.
“Two fights in four years,” Mendez scoffed in an interview with Hablemos MMA. “How many fights does Jon Jones have in the last four years? If you said six or seven, OK. But how many does he have? Two in four years.” Meanwhile, Islam? “Islam’s fights have always been against No. 1,” Mendez pointed out. “Alexander Volkanovski was the best featherweight in the world and pound-for-pound, and he fought him.”
And for months, Dana wasn’t having it. But after UFC 311? He finally cracked, reluctantly. “Yeah, I’ll give it to him. Are you happy? Is everybody happy now?” White muttered in the post-fight presser as if forced to admit a hard truth.
Case closed? Not quite. Before UFC 313, White floated the idea that if Alex Pereira won, he’d likely leapfrog Islam to No. 1. But ‘Poatan’ didn’t get his golden ticket, Magomed Ankalaev’s victory put that debate on ice. Luck? Maybe. But you won’t find Makhachev losing any sleep over it. Meanwhile, Mendez? He was never in doubt. He’s been calling it how he sees it from day one, and White’s back-and-forth didn’t shake his stance one bit. “Islam’s the best fighter in the world right now,” Mendez said. And with the way Makhachev has been dismantling opponents, who can argue with that statement?
The lightweight division isn’t short on challengers for the Dagestani king. Justin Gaethje, fresh off his UFC 313 win over Rafael Fiziev, didn’t even let himself enjoy a post-fight donut because he’s already eyeing Islam Makhachev. That’s dedication. Then there’s Arman Tsarukyan, the No. 1 contender, who missed UFC 311 and has since been waiting. And finally, Ilia Topuria, the former featherweight champ who’s been campaigning hard for a shot at the lightweight strap.
So, what do you think? With challengers like Gaethje, Tsarukyan, and Topuria lining up, can Makhachev’s adaptability keep him on top? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
The post “He’s Not a Khabib” — Javier Mendez Drops Bold Verdict on Islam Makhachev-Nurmagomedov Comparison appeared first on EssentiallySports.
