Chael Sonnen questions Khabib Nurmagomedov's comments
Leading up to UFC 280, Khabib Nurmagomedov has questioned the ground game of Charles Oliveira. 'Do Bronx' is set to face Nurmagomedov's close friend and training partner Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title this weekend.
Former UFC contender and current mixed martial arts analyst Chael Sonnen recently questioned Nurmagomedov's opinion.
The fight you’ve all been asking for 👀
@CharlesDoBronxs vs @MakhachevMMA is set for the LW title 👑
[ #UFC280 | @VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi ] https://t.co/GhqjbwZ0LM
Speaking on his podcast, Beyond the Fight, Chael Sonnen shared that he believes Khabib Nurmagomedov should be building up the No.1-ranked lightweight rather than pointing out his losses:
"This fight can only go two ways for Islam [Makhachev]: he wins or he does not win. If he was to get beat, if he was to get submitted, the narrative that he's in there with the greatest submission artist of the sport that the division has ever seen would be very helpful."
Sonnen questioned whether Nurmagomedov's comments would diminish Makhachev's performance if he emerges victorious. He then opined on whether Makhachev has shown Khabib that he is fully confident if the fight ends up on the ground:
"Are you still trying to convince your pupil [that 'do Bronx' don't have ground game]? If every word you say as a mentor is being clung to, do you have a pupil [Makhachev] in your presence who is not yet convinced? Does not yet have the confidence that I can go to the ground, not be in trouble, and in fact succeed."
Watch Chael Sonnen discuss Khabib Nurmagomedov's comments below (starting at the 6:45 mark):
Khabib Nurmagomedov is a tough coach according to Islam Makhachev
Khabib Nurmagomedov shocked fans when he retired in his prime following a successful title defense against Justin Gaethje in October 2020. His decision was driven by a promise he made to his mother following the loss of his father to COVID-19 a few months prior to the title fight.
Like his father, the UFC Hall of Famer began a new career coaching and training fighters. Ahead of his first title opportunity at UFC 280, Islam Makhachev opened up on having 'The Eagle' as a coach.
Speaking with Adam Catterall of BT Sport, Makhachev stated:
"Sometimes, I am angry because he's not training now and push us so hard. I told the other coach 'Hey, this guy not control' because if we did sparring or wrestling - I remember when we're training we did sparring, grappling... wrestling and then finished [the training]... but always he have some exercise after this training."
While the additional exercise after training may seem like a harsh form of coaching, Nurmagomedov knows, as well as anyone, what it takes to be among the best in the sport. Widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, Nurmagomedov never lost a fight in his career.
Watch Islam Makhachev discuss Khabib Nurmagomedov as a coach below (starting at the 7:37 mark):