Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev will be back in action for the second time this year. He will take on Alexander Volkanovski in a rematch for his lightweight strap at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, many people are wondering if his former coach and UFC Hall of Famer, Khabib Nurmagomedov, will ever return to corner him again.

Nurmagomedov was last seen at UFC 280 when Makhachev defeated Oliveira. With the mentorship of ‘The Eagle’, the 24-1 fighter finished off ‘Do Bronx’ in the second round of the fight. Moreover, Nurmagomedov’s last stint as Makhachev’s cornerman was in Abu Dhabi, where UFC 294 is taking place. Therefore, fans think he might be back!

After Alexander Volkanovski took Islam Makhachev into deep waters, will Khabib Nurmagomedov return to coach Islam at UFC 294?

‘The Eagle’ left Islam Makhachev by himself for the first time in his fight against Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284. This proved to be a gamble on the lightweight champion’s part. In one of the toughest fights of Makhachev’s career, the undisputed featherweight champion took the Dagestan native to the limit. Moreover, ‘The Great’ scored the only knockdown of the fight in the fifth and final round.

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However, Islam Makhachev was able to survive Alexander Volkanovski and secure a unanimous decision victory. Despite defending the title, he showed that Khabib Nurmagomedov’s presence was an integral part of his top-tier performance inside the Octagon in the last. Although ‘The Eagle’ has been training Makhachev, it seems unlikely that he will come back to corner Makhachev due to his family. Let’s take a look at that front.

UFC legend quit coaching to spend more time with family

Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from fighting after his father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, sadly passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic. He then took up the coaching role, and after helping Islam Makhachev win UFC gold, he decided to step away from all aspects of MMA. The reason Nurmagomedov retired was for his family.

‘The Eagle’s former coach, Javier Mendez, spoke about his retirement and mentioned that the UFC Hall of Famer does not want to miss being a father. Moreover, Nurmagomedov has been constantly traveling with his fighters from one place to another and hasn’t had enough time to spend with his family. He is a family man and wants to put his family first.

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Regardless of Nurmagomedov’s decision to step away from the fight game, he has always been in touch with Islam Makhachev. So he is helping the reigning champion in some way or another. However, this time, the UFC is holding its pay-per-view in Abu Dhabi, UAE, which is comparatively closer to his native country than the United States. So it remains to be seen if ‘The Eagle’ could make a return for at least one fight.

Do you think Khabib Nurmagomedov is coming back to corner Islam Makhachev? Drop your comments below.

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