Khabib Nurmagomedov, the undefeated UFC legend, has revealed his plans for the future of his coaching career in a recent appearance in Chicago.
The Dagestani icon made it clear that his time as a coach has an expiration date, one that’s directly tied to the careers of his most cherished students: Islam Makhachev, Umar Nurmagomedov, and Usman Nurmagomedov.
During an evening event attended by thousands of fans, Khabib opened up about the immense pressure and responsibility that comes with coaching at the highest level. When asked how long he sees himself continuing in this role, his answer was definitive: “When these guys finish, I’m going to finish.”
He identified his priority fighters, emphasizing that Islam, Umar, and Usman remain at the center of his coaching mission.
The emotional toll of coaching clearly weighs on the former lightweight champion. Khabib admitted that sitting cageside is far more difficult than competing himself. “All my life I was inside the kitchen fighting but now I’m sitting outside and talking,” he explained. “It’s very hard to control what brothers doing. You just can give advice. Can you imagine somebody you go and you go fight then you cannot help him?”
The stress is particularly acute when Islam Makhachev fights. Khabib confessed that after Islam’s last fight, it took him three days to return to a normal emotional state. “Fight this Islam it’s always very very emotional,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Khabib’s commitment to his team remains unwavering. He described the demanding nature of his training camps, where there is “no freedom of speech” and discipline reigns supreme. His philosophy is simple but effective: squeeze them hard in training so they can perform when the lights are brightest. “If I squeeze them in training, they going to look good inside the cage,” he explained.
Islam Makhachev is one of the sport’s biggest stars and is scheduled to compete in November. Umar Nurmagomedov recently signed with PFL, taking a step-by-step approach to reaching the pinnacle of the sport. Meanwhile, Usman Nurmagomedov continues to build his legacy in his division, with Khabib believing this next title defense could cement him as “one of the best who ever did this in this world.”
Khabib acknowledged that every month brings another match for his team, creating a relentless schedule. Yet his dedication stems from genuine love for his brothers. “I love all these guys. They’re good people,” he said, revealing the personal bonds that fuel his coaching fire.
When the careers of Islam, Umar, and Usman conclude, so too will Khabib’s chapter as a coach.
