"Weak" of Khabib Nurmagomedov to predict only 5-6 title defenses for Islam Makhachev, says Brendan Schaub
Khabib Nurmagomedov has a reasonable expectation of five to six title defenses from his protege Islam Makhachev.
Former UFC fighter turned podcaster/comedian Brendan Schaub considers Nurmagomedov's expectations "weak" if it means for Makhachev to hang up his gloves after his first title loss. According to Schaub, Nurmagomedov's prediction is likely based on the "Father's Plan" laid down by his late father, Abdulmanap.
The TUF alum recently said on The Schaub Show:
"Khabib backed out right? So if a guy did come who can wrestle and negate Makhachev's and Khabib's wrestling, you just retire? That's stupid. That's not what champions do...It's like, 'He should do as many title defenses as he can before father time catches up to him.' You don't wanna say 'the game catches up to him'. Hold up, if somebody comes along who poses a threat, he just retires? That's some weak shit."
Watch Schaub's comments below (51:03):
Khabib Nurmagomedov recently acknowledged that a UFC champion could only stay on top for so long due to unavoidable physical limitations posed by age. 'The Eagle' expects his heir Makhachev to make five or six title defenses within a span of three years to seal his legacy.
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Coach claims Islam Makhachev never wanted to be Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov vacated the throne after four successful title wins within a span of two and a half years. If Islam Makhachev was indeed to hang up his gloves after five to six title defenses, his legacy would match 'The Eagle's almost to the tee.
However, Javier Mendez, Makhachev and Nurmagomedov's head coach at AKA, claims that the current lightweight champion never wanted to follow in his predecessor's footsteps. Mendez claims Makhachev even refuses to have a nickname, which goes on to say more about his independent personality. The AKA head coach said on The MMA Hour:
“They’re completely different and Islam has been 100-percent comfortable in his role, and he’s never wanted to be Khabib and always felt he was Islam. Also, keep in mind, he doesn’t have a nickname and he never wanted a nickname. I tried to nickname him one time and Islam said, ‘No, coach, my name is Islam,’ and I said OK.”
Watch Mendez's comments on Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov below (1:03:51):