When Khabib Nurmagomedov's coach revealed the truth behind famed 'father's plan': "It has never been grappling"
Khabib Nurmagomedov's coach once revealed the true meaning behind the iconic catchphrase, 'father's plan'.
When Nurmagomedov competed in the UFC, his head coach Javier Mendez was often heard from the corner urging him to follow 'father's plan'. This advice mainly referred to the strategic game plan devised by the UFC Hall of Famer's father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.
Before Nurmagomedov began training at the American Kickboxing Academy in California, he honed his skills in the traditional martial art of combat sambo under the tutelage of his father, a master of freestyle wrestling and grappling.
During an interview with Gorilla Fighting, Mendez was asked to unveil the true significance behind 'father's plan'.
The 53-year-old MMA coach explained that the catchphrase wasn't solely about focusing on grappling. Instead, it encompassed a much broader strategy:
"'Father's plan' is not grappling; a lot of people think it's grappling. It has never been grappling. No, 'father's plan' was much more than that. It's what you have as an advantage over your opponent, that's 'father's plan'. His father was not simple like that, and his father was very complex; he was a genius. So it wasn't about grappling... It's about using your best strengths against your opponent's weaknesses and understanding what they are."
Check out Javier Mendez's comments below:
After securing a second-round submission victory over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in October 2020, 'The Eagle' announced his retirement from professional competition, capping off his career with an unblemished 29-0 record.
However, this achievement would not have been possible without the dedication of his late father, whose profound influence and guidance were pivotal to his success.
Beyond his role in his son's triumph, Nurmagomedov Sr. significantly impacted the careers of numerous fighters from the Dagestani region, including the reigning UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev.
When Javier Mendez shared why Khabib Nurmagomedov at times deviated from 'father's plan'
During a podcast video on his YouTube channel in December 2023, Javier Mendez disclosed that Khabib Nurmagomedov frequently did not adhere to his instructions and sometimes strayed from 'father's plan'.
Mendez recounted an instance when 'The Eagle' ignored his instructions during his victory over Edson Barboza at UFC 219:
"Khabib doesn't listen a lot of the times, but when he does listen, he does exactly what he's supposed to do because you gotta understand, Khabib was always, 'Oh, he can't strike, he can't this.' So he stands with these guys to show them he can, so he doesn't go to 'father's plan', which was what I wanted to do always."
Check out Javier Mendez's comments below (11:34):