Former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov mentors both current and potential UFC competitors. However, he does not serve as the gym’s head coach.
Although the former lightweight champion has temporarily stopped all MMA activities, a video of him is now going viral. The video shows Nurmagomedov being scolded by head coach Javier Mendez in the gym.
It seems that Mendez had heard a few complaints about Khabib slacking off during practice sessions. There is only so much indiscipline the gym’s head coach can tolerate. Coach Mendez obviously does not like people sitting idly in his gym.
A calm Nurmagomedov may be seen in the video sitting down in a gym corner. The head coach was a little too concerned by this sight. As coach Mendez watched Khabib go through his Instagram reels, Mendez made the decision to speak directly with his assistant coach about the issue. Coach Mendez asks Nurmagomedov, “Is this what I taught you? Is this how I taught you how to coach?”
The 34-year-old was reminded by the coach that he could not just destroy the team’s culture. The Russian was promptly reprimanded for failing to complete his duties as a coach. Javier Mendez informed Nurmagomedov that he occupies a higher position when Khabib attempted to argue. Like a disciplined person, Nurmagomedov then admitted his error.
There have been different stories going around about different disciplinary measures in Khabib’s camp. Infamous Dagestani champion just announced he would be withdrawing from the MMA community even though insiders from his camp claim he’ll still be involved but won’t be traveling as much to be able to spend time with his family.
A video previously went viral showcasing a spanking trainees receive on Khabib’s camp if they don’t maintain a military style haircut.
Belal Muhammed has shared what it was like to spend time in the Nurmagomedov camp and talked a little bit about the infamous disciplinary measures Nurmagomedov uses to maintain discipline.
“I think, is a different type of mentality that a lot of gyms don’t have of being more disciplined. And I think that comes from being Muslim. I think a lot of it comes from that is it just being religious.”
“You’re bringing a different type of discipline where you have to pray five times a day and every single one of the guys is doing that. None of their guys are drinking. None of the guys are going out and parting. ”
“If there’s guys that come to practice and they look a little bit tired, could be able to take their phone away from them and he won’t give it to them until the next day tomorrow morning. So he’ll take their phone at night, 9 p.m. and then you have to go to sleep, get a good night sleep.”
“And then next practice he’ll give your phone back because you’re probably on your phone on night playing games or something stupid. And he like he pays attention to those things. And the fact that he wants you to win that bad because he doesn’t need to be there, he doesn’t need to give you the knowledge. “