Oct 22, 2022; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Khabib Nurmagomedov is seen during the fight between Abubakar Nurmagomedov (red gloves) and Gadzhi Omargadzhiev (blue gloves) during UFC 280 at Etihad Arena. Mandatory Credit: Craig Kidwell-USA TODAY Sports

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UFC Analysis: Chael Sonnen Gives His Take On Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Coaching Career

UFC legend Chael Sonnen has come out to share his perspective on Khabib Nurmagomedov's coaching career!

When it comes to MMA legends, Khabib Nurmagomedov stands in a class of his own. The undefeated ‘Eagle’ soared through his career with a perfect 29-0 record before hanging up his gloves in 2020.

But life after fighting brought new challenges as Nurmagomedov stepped into the coaching role for his longtime friend and training partner, Islam Makhachev. Now, UFC legend Chael Sonnen has come out to share his perspective on the Dagestani dominator’s coaching career.

Also Read: Coach Khabib Is Not Fond Of This Fight

What Did Chael Sonnen Say About Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Coaching Career

An interesting conversation between Demetrious Johnson and Khabib Nurmagomedov recently shed light on something many fans didn’t know. During a training session, Johnson asked Khabib point-blank if he enjoyed coaching.

In a surprisingly candid admission, Nurmagomedov revealed that he really didn’t like it at all. The stress of coaching, it seems, weighs heavily on the former champion’s shoulders.

Now, Chael Sonnen offered some fascinating insights into Khabib’s relationship with coaching. He pointed out something that many missed: Khabib’s selective approach to cornering even Islam Makhachev’s fights. While he showed up for the big title bouts, he was noticeably absent from some of Islam’s non-championship fights.

When he [Khabib Nurmagomedov] retired, he was going to see it through for Islam, but only Islam. That is the way that I understood this… [But] Islam himself even fought without Khabib, but when the title fight came, then Khabib came back.”

Sonnen’s take makes a lot of sense when fans think about it. Khabib Nurmagomedov made a promise to help Islam Makhachev reach the top, but that didn’t mean he had to be there for every single fight.

Now, he has taken over the same role for other high-profile fights for his teammates, including cornering and coaching Usman Nurmagomedov against Alexandr Shabliy and the upcoming bantamweight title fight for Umar Nurmagomedov against Merab Dvalishvili.

Whether Khabib Nurmagomedov will continue his selective coaching approach or eventually step away completely remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: His candid admission and Chael Sonnen’s analysis give fans a fascinating glimpse into the challenges of transitioning from champion to coach.

(Image Credits: Craig Kidwell – Imagn Images)

Chael Sonnen

Islam Makhachev

Khabib Nurmagomedov

Merab Dvalishvili

Umar Nurmagomedov

Usman Nurmagomedov

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!