Is Belal Muhammad Trained by Khabib Nurmagomedov? Coach, Gym, & Teammates

Every champion has a corner. But when that corner includes a legend like Khabib Nurmagomedov, people start to talk. So, what’s the truth? Is Belal Muhammad truly under ‘The Eagle’s wing, or is the connection more layered than it seems? After all, the UFC welterweight king has trained in both Chicago and Dagestan.

He’s walked beside veterans, stood with killers, and sharpened his craft in brutal rounds that most fighters wouldn’t survive. Let’s pull back the curtain on his coaching crew, his gym wars, and the bond he shares with Team Khabib.

Who is Belal Muhammad’s coach?

Belal Muhammad didn’t reach UFC gold by walking an easy path. For years, Louis Taylor played a guiding role in his corner. But now, it’s Mike Valle who leads the charge. Valle, a seasoned coach and striking technician, runs the VFS Academy, also known as Valle Flow Striking, in Addison, Illinois.

Valle’s approach? Precision meets grit. And it fits Muhammad’s evolution perfectly, especially as he continues to polish his striking to match his grappling chops.

But he also spends his time training with ‘Team Khabib’ as he explained in a previous interview with ‘MMA Junkie Radio’, “I’m planning for sure to go to Dagestan and train with those guys, like you said, to get a new look, to get different feels.”

Belal Muhammad’s training with Khabib and team

Yes, Belal Muhammad trains with Khabib Nurmagomedov, and when he was asked by MMA Junkie if he was ever led astray by the latter, he denied it. Muhammed takes advice from ‘The Eagle’ and considers it to be invaluable. “A lot of their stuff that we do when we go live or we go hard is like we’re working,” Muhammad said.

He also mentioned how he always has to be ready to go, which is an uncomfortable feeling since there is no buffer time, and every round feels like a new fight. He admitted that the Dagestani camp has massive fighters who are beasts, and each has their own style. Every round is crucial, and he has to be ready.

The fighter with a primary style of wrestling and one of the best grapplers in the division has used this to utilize opponents and secure his wins. “Khabib, he’s still training, he’s still going hard, he’s smashing me no matter what,” he said bluntly in a Barstool Chicago interview. “There’s not a light round in that gym.”

That same training may have been the difference maker in his UFC 304 clash with Leon Edwards, where he dominated ‘Rocky’ and ripped the belt away from him with a 5-round unanimous decision. So, who are the teammates that have helped him polish his arsenal to a razor’s edge?

Where does Belal train? Gym and teammates

Despite his brutal stints in Dagestan, Belal Muhammad calls Illinois home. More specifically, VFS Academy in Addison, a far cry from the cold mountains of ‘The Eagle’s homeland, but no less intense. Before this, he trained at Chicago Fight Team, sharpening his skills in his hometown, but his switch to VFS was a turning point.

Alongside teammates like Yair Rodriguez, Ignacio Bahamondes, and Carlos Hernandez, the room is stacked with talent. No room for egos. No space for soft rounds. VFS may not be as iconic as ‘JacksonWinkMMA’ or ‘ATT’, but it gets results. The belt around Muhammad’s waist is evidence for the same.

Earlier in his career, he credited Roberto Ramirez and Nicasio Sanchez for shaping his base. But as his career evolved, so did his support system. The addition of Valle and the Dagestani connection added new tools to his arsenal.

He even shared a memorable moment from training with Khabib’s team: “He bought me like $600 worth of shoes from Hermes,” Muhammad revealed in an interview with Money Loyalty Legacy.

From the grind of Chicago’s gyms to the warzone-like rounds in Dagestan, Muhammad has built himself into a weapon.  

And he’ll need every bit of that hard-earned wisdom as he heads into UFC 315 against the dangerous Jack Della Maddalena. The Aussie striker is slick, precise, and hungry. Will “Remember The Name” make his first title defense a masterclass? Or will the storm from ‘Down Under’ crack the champion’s foundation? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!