‘He’s going to be world champion’: Khabib coach Mendez says UFC debutant Umar Nurmagomedov can proceed cousin’s combating legacy

Whereas the way forward for probably the most distinguished fighter within the Nurmagomedov clan stays unresolved for now, AKA head coach Javier Mendez says there’s some important expertise coming from the household’s meeting line.

After a few false begins, the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov will lastly make his UFC debut on ‘Battle Island’ this Wednesday towards Kazakh standout Sergey Morozov.

And the person tasked with guiding the younger bantamweight’s ascent to the MMA main leagues, American Kickboxing Academy coach Javier Mendez, says that Umar has the skillset to suitably characterize his well-known combating title.

“Umar’s superior, I anticipate he’s going to be the world champion in 5 or 6 fights,” Mendez stated to RT Sport in Abu Dhabi forward of this Wednesday’s second of three struggle playing cards.

“However he’s fully completely different from Khabib. In the best way he fights, he’s extra of a striker-type base man. However he can do all of it, he can do every part.”

That actually is excessive reward from one of many sport’s most distinguished trainers and the person who, in tandem with Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, guided Khabib’s profession to legendary standing.

However Mendez makes clear that nearly as good as Umar is, he and highly-rated fellow member of the family Usman Nurmagomedov (who has signed for rival promotion Bellator) could be hard-pressed to outshine the accomplishments of the undefeated UFC light-weight champion.

“I’ve by no means stated they (Umar and Usman) are higher (than Khabib),” Mendez defined. “Once I say gifted, that doesn’t imply higher. Khabib’s the perfect there’s ever been and is likely to be the perfect there ever was. Being probably the most gifted doesn’t imply the perfect ever. I feel Khabib’s the perfect ever.”

There can solely be one ‘greatest ever’, Mendez opines, and whereas that title can suitably be utilized to Khabib, he says that Umar and Usman’s accomplishments in blended martial arts might be important.

“They’re going to be champions, however we’ll see in the event that they’re higher than (Khabib), as a result of Khabib is fairly unimaginable,” Mendez added. “I can say they’re higher kickers or boxers, I don’t know in the event that they’ll be higher floor guys than him, or as robust psychological. Umar is the one which’s closest mentally, he’s fairly robust mentally.”

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