“His father was more easy”: Usman Nurmagomedov jokingly reveals Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father was a more merciful coach

Khabib Nurmagomedov is already remembered as one of the greatest lightweight fighters in MMA history. The UFC Hall of Famer retired undefeated, but his influence in the sport did not stop there. Since leaving competition, he has built a reputation as an elite coach. He now guides several top fighters from his Dagestan team. Many of them are champions. Islam Makhachev and cousin Usman Nurmagomedov are the biggest examples of his growing coaching legacy.

His methods are demanding and disciplined. Fighters often say his training camps are harder than actual fights. Nurmagomedov controls almost every detail of preparation, from conditioning to sparring intensity. According to his teammates, there is little room for disagreement during sessions. Ahead of Usman Nurmagomedov’s PFL Dubai title defense, the lightweight champion explained how strict the former UFC champion really is and why that approach keeps their team winning.

Usman Nurmagomedov reveals Khabib Nurmagomedov’s relentless gym mentality

Usman Nurmagomedov confirmed that Khabib Nurmagomedov truly runs training exactly as he claims. Speaking to MMA Fighting, the champion explained that when he once told Khabib he felt weak and tired, his coach interpreted it as hesitation rather than fatigue. Khabib believed that if a fighter feels torn between training and resting, then training is the correct choice. He immediately pushed Usman into more grappling rounds, even after a full practice session, and they wrestled for nearly twenty additional minutes.

Usman said it is almost impossible to convince Khabib that a fighter is exhausted. He added that during preparations for Islam Makhachev’s fight, any complaint or frustration inside the gym would be questioned immediately. Khabib would demand to know who spoke and why, creating a strict and disciplined environment.

The PFL champion joked that Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, Khabib’s late father and original mentor, was gentler as a coach. Still, he admitted the harsh style is effective. According to Usman, Khabib constantly pushes fighters beyond their limits and that suffering in training helps them grow.

He also believes the brutal camps prepare him for anything in the cage. By the time he fights Alfie Davis, he expects no surprises because Khabib has already anticipated every situation. Usman said he is grateful for the pressure, even when it feels overwhelming, because it gives him the best chance to win.





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