Beyond the UFC - Coach Javier Mendez highlights the world's second-best undefeated lightweight fighter outside the Octagon
The world of
MMA
has seen some of the finest fighters who excelled in the sport and were not part of the highly decorated promotion,
UFC
. One of the most prominent fighters was Fedor Emelianenko, who took the combat sport to a different level without ever joining the promotion.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
In a recent episode of Redhawk Recap, coach
Javier Mendez
talked about one such fighter who probably would never join the UFC and credited him as the
second-best
lightweight fighter
after
Islam Makhachev
.
Coach Javier Mendez points out the reason why veteran fighter Usman Nurmagomedov might never join the UFC
Islam Makhachev, the former UFC lightweight champion, recently vacated the title to move up to the welterweight division, intending to challenge the newly crowned welterweight champion, Jack Della Maddalena.
This has placed the former featherweight Ilia Topuria against Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317. Topuria instantly predicted his successful lightweight conquest and plans to take his MMA record to 17-0 post- bout. Oliveira, on the other hand, is on a mission to reclaim his title, which was previously lost to Islam Makhachev.
While analysing the upcoming events within the UFC, Makhachev's coach, Javier Mendez, talked about the unsung fighters of the sport.
The coach was asked about the possibility of one such fighter joining the UFC - Usman Nurmagomedov. The current
PFL
and former
Bellator
lightweight champion is the younger brother of Umar Nurmagomedov, the UFC bantamweight fighter and cousin of the former UFC champion
Khabib Nurmagomedov
.
Usman has shown extraordinary skills inside the ring and has taken his undefeated strike record to 19-0. His last win was a title run against Paul Hughes at the PFL Champion Series, Dubai.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
When asked if the fighter would ever be a part of the UFC, Coach Mendez dismissed the idea saying, 'No. Usman, you know, he is with the PFL. And no, there is no talks about it. I mean they are taking good care of him.' He continued, 'But you know at the end of the day, the contracts are up when the contracts are up. So, whoever bids the highest and then if the fighter wants to go, that's where the fighter will go. But the present time, he has got an obligation to the PFL.'
JAVIER MENDEZ on ISLAM'S MOVE TO 170 LBS, TOPURIA VS OLIVEIRA, MERAB | Red Hawk Recap Ep. 186
Coach Mendez even went on to tag the fighter as the second best in the lightweight category across the world after Islam Makhachev.
'I happen to think and I have said it on many occasions, I think he is the second-best lightweight in the world.'
Usman has maintained the legacy of his family's tradition of the undefeated streak. Khabib retired with a 29-0 pro-MMA record. Usman's brother Umar was also riding on a 17-0 undefeated streak before getting handed his first defeat by Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
UFC Fans get divided as new training video of middleweight fighter Khamzat Chimaev goes viral ahead of the title bout at UFC 319
Khamzat Chimaev. Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC UFC fans get divided over a recent video of the undefeated Russian middleweight fighter Khamzat Chimaev training in his gym, which went viral. The fighter is seen preparing for the upcoming title bout against the current middleweight champion, Dricus Du Plessis, at UFC 319 . A couple of days ago, fans got to witness another video of Chimaev, where the fighter is seen practising some fierce wrestling moves with Abdulrashid Sadulaev, a prodigy in the world of wrestling with two Olympic gold medals and six world championships. Khamzat Chimaev isolates himself to concentrate on his training camp, practices hardcore wrestling moves involving takedown attempts and pins Borz seems to be keeping no stone unturned for his upcoming title run at UFC 319. The fighter, apparently, even isolated himself to avoid any distraction and has been focused on his training in the mountain villages of Kislovodsk. The last video that Khamzat Chimaev uploaded on Instagram featuring Abdulrashid Sadulaev garnered a lot of attention from the fans, which even included the ones supporting the current middleweight champion, Dricus Du Plessis. The recent video that went viral showed the fighter practising some rapid grappling moves and takedown attempts while also training to evade any such attempts from his opponent. Chimaev is known for his vicious wrestling moves, which have landed him as the Swedish National Champion in wrestling for three straight years. The fighter's wrestling record stands at an undefeated 12-0. Borz's very past, involving aggressive wrestling, has left the fans of Dricus worried, while they still try to stand behind the latter and support the fighter. Fans of Chimaev seem to be quite confident about the fighter winning the division golf, owing to his undefeated streak in his pro-MMA career. One of the fans wrote, 'The real future MW champion, The Borz !' A section of fans believes that no matter which direction the fight goes, it is the press conference that will be interesting, owing to DDP's past history of trash-talk records. A user wrote, 'dpp gonna crash khamzat during the press conference tho. we might see some crazy things happens during the press because khamzat isnt someone who can accept trash talk. Haha' Another user wrote while supporting the current middleweight, 'DDP gonna dog walk this man' Also read: Irish fighter Paddy McCorry seemingly yells pro-Palestine slogans while landing brutal blows on former IDF member turned fighter Shuki Farage The fight between Chimaev and DDP will be the headlining event of UFC 319 scheduled for August 16, 2025. Fans are eagerly waiting for this matchup which will feature two legends going head on against each other for the championship gold of the division. Chimaev is currently ranked 3rd in the entire division.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Explained: Why Khabib Nurmagomedov refused to shake CBS host Kate Scott's hand
UFC Legend Khabib Nurmagomedov Refuses Handshake from CBS Host Kate Scott at Champions League Final/ Image: File, X In an incident that has sparked mixed reactions online, former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov politely refused to shake hands with CBS Sports host Kate Scott during a Champions League final segment. The moment occurred at the Allianz Arena on Saturday night, following Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) stunning 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the 2025 Champions League final. The incident As the post-match coverage unfolded, Nurmagomedov, who was present alongside fellow UFC star Islam Makhachev, approached the CBS Sports panel. He greeted each of the male pundits, including Thierry Henry , Jamie Carragher, and Micah Richards, with a handshake. However, when Scott, who was previously known as Kate Abdo before her marriage to boxing trainer Malik Scott, extended her hand for a handshake, Khabib respectfully declined. The refusal, which came across as somewhat awkward, led to Scott quickly pulling back her hand. It was clear that the gesture was not a personal affront but a decision based on Khabib's devout Islamic faith. After the exchange, Khabib appeared to clarify his position, explaining to Scott that his refusal was a reflection of his religious beliefs. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esta nueva alarma con cámara es casi regalada en Villa Constitución (ver precio) Verisure Undo Scott, understanding the situation, apologized on air. Cultural and religious context Khabib's refusal to shake hands is rooted in his deep commitment to Islam, a faith that prohibits physical contact with members of the opposite sex unless they are close relatives. As a devout Sunni Muslim, Khabib has been open about his adherence to the religious practices that guide his daily life, including interactions with women. This is not the first time Khabib has faced scrutiny for his faith-driven decisions. Back in 2020, UFC fighter Cynthia Calvillo revealed that Khabib would not train directly with her due to her gender, though he would still demonstrate techniques from a distance. "It's a little bit weird because of their religion... they won't train with women," Calvillo told theScore. Despite the awkwardness, she emphasized that Khabib and his team were not rude, and that they still communicated respect. Reactions from Fans and social Media The handshake incident generated a wave of reactions on social media, with many fans praising Khabib for his respectful adherence to his beliefs. One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, 'Khabib respectfully declining Kate Abdo's handshake #respect.' Another added, 'Beautiful! Very respectful from Khabib. I love to see this.' However, not all responses were positive. Some fans felt that Khabib's actions were disrespectful towards Scott. One comment stated, 'That didn't seem respectful. Forget about the handshake, he even ignored her and didn't even greet and acknowledge her until she put her hand out.' Despite the brief awkwardness, Khabib quickly shifted the focus of the conversation back to the match and his support for PSG, who had secured their first-ever Champions League title. He was joined by Makhachev, who also celebrated the victory, and the two discussed the game with enthusiasm. Scott, for her part, continued her coverage with professionalism.
Economic Times
a day ago
- Economic Times
Jordan Leavitt puts opponent to sleep in 99 seconds at UFC Vegas 107
Leavitt showcased his aggressive fighting style and grappling skills right from the start, pushing for a takedown. After a brief exchange, he brought Holobaugh to the mat and locked in an anaconda choke. Holobaugh couldn't escape, and the referee intervened at 1:29 of Round 1 after he went unconscious. (Image courtesy: UFC/X) "The Monkey King", Jordan Leavitt returns with an easy win after 18 months in the octagon, at UFC Vegas 107. He submitted Kurt Holobaugh in the first round with a slick anaconda choke, putting him to lightweight bout took place on Saturday, May 31, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Leavitt, known for his aggressive and unusual fighting style and grappling skills, wasted no time showing his strengths. From the opening bell, he pushed forward, looking for a takedown. After a brief exchange on the feet, Leavitt dragged Holobaugh to the mat. He quickly locked in an anaconda choke, a tight submission that cuts off blood flow to the brain. Holobaugh tried to escape but failed. The referee stepped in at 1:29 minutes of Round 1 after Holobaugh went unconscious. This was Leavitt's second win in a row and a strong reminder of his submission skills. The 29-year-old now has a record of 12 wins and two losses. He is best known for his 2022 loss to Paddy Pimblett, but he has bounced back well since then. Speaking after the fight, Leavitt said he was happy with the finish. 'I knew he'd come out aggressive, so I waited for my moment,' he said. 'Once I had the grip, I knew it was over.' Holobaugh, a former "The Ultimate Fighter" finalist, dropped to 20 wins and eight losses. He had come into the fight with high hopes but had no answer to Leavitt's ground win could open new doors for Leavitt in the UFC's stacked lightweight division. UFC Vegas 107 featured several exciting finishes, but Leavitt's submission stood out as one of the best. It also served as a reminder that he is still a dangerous fighter with the ability to end fights quickly. With this aggressive performance, Leavitt may be eyeing a rematch with old rival Paddy Pimblett, whom he lost to in 2022, or a shot at a top-15 opponent next.
