Is Islam Makhachev better than Khabib Nurmagomedov? Coach Javier Mendez may have answered this long-standing question that many MMA fans have asked. Mendez, who founded the AKA (American Kickboxing Academy), has trained both the athletes.

He recently made an appearance on Jimmy Smith’s ‘Red Corner Talk’. During his interview, he shared his training experience with Makhachev. It turns out Makhachev was the “only person that actually gave Khabib any trouble sparring.”

“Win rounds against Khabib”: Mendez on Islam Makhachev

‘The Eagle’ started training at the AKA back in 2012. During this period, he developed a deep bond with his coach. Many feel Nurmagomedov is the best fighter Mendez has ever trained. However, the coach revealed why Islam Makhachev stood out from the rest during his early training days. 

Mendez said, “When Islam first started training, he was the only person that actually gave Khabib any trouble sparring. No one else would give Khabib any trouble sparring. He was the only one that would actually win rounds against Khabib. No one else could ever do that.”

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“I knew that he was special based on that. He became really good at striking because he trained at home with other striking coaches. Islam had other people training with him. Sam was one of his coaches who was a silver medalist in boxing,” he added.

‘The Eagle’ also rated Makhachev highly. After retiring from the sport, Nurmagomedov took to coaching and stood by the current champion. Under his guidance, Makhachev defeated some highly accomplished fighters in the UFC. This includes Charles Oliveira and Alexander Volkanovski. Currently, the 32-year-old is preparing for his match against Oliveira.

Will Islam Makhachev finally face Charles Oliveira? 

Islam Makhachev defended his title against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294. He dominated the fight and won the match with a stunning head kick. Although the Dagestani was scheduled to fight Charles Oliveira, the fight did not happen because of an injury to ‘Do Bronx’. The Brazilian suffered a cut during training, forcing him to withdraw from the fight. 

Ex-UFC Champ Reveals Why Khamzat Chimaev Would Get the Job Done Against 205 Lbs Champion Alex Pereira, Despite Massive Size Difference

While fans desperately wait for the bout, when will it happen? A recent report suggests that they might headline UFC 297. However, there is no official statement regarding the fight.

In their previous encounter, Makhachev rose to the occasion and defeated Oliveira. Will he be able to maintain his unbeaten record? Let us know in the comments below. 

Watch this story: Watch: Khabib Nurmagomedov Invents Another Dagestani Basketball Style Game