Javier Mendez: Khabib Nurmagomedov Prolonged Conor McGregor Fight To ‘Punish Him’

NurmagomedovKhabib Nurmagomedov‘s fight with Conor McGregor only lasted four rounds because the former wanted it that way according to American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez. Nurmagomedov recently submitted Justin Gaethje with a triangle choke in the second round of their UFC 254 headliner this past weekend. Daniel Cormier would later reveal Nurmagomedov applied the […]

Nurmagomedov

Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s fight with Conor McGregor only lasted four rounds because the former wanted it that way according to American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez.

Nurmagomedov recently submitted Justin Gaethje with a triangle choke in the second round of their UFC 254 headliner this past weekend. Daniel Cormier would later reveal Nurmagomedov applied the chokehold so that he wouldn’t hurt Gaethje in front of his parents who were in attendance.

The same cannot be said for Nurmagomedov’s submission win over McGregor at UFC 229 two years ago. “The Eagle” would triumph over the Irishman in their heated grudge match with a neck crank in the fourth round.

And as per Mendez, it could have ended sooner — if not for the fact that Nurmagomedov wanted to punish McGregor.

“I gather Khabib likes Justin a lot because he finished him sooner than he would’ve with most people,” Mendez told SunSport. “He likes to punish people a bit, ground and pound them. But Justin’s parents were there and he knew Justin wouldn’t tap and he didn’t want to break his arm in front of his parents.

“Khabib purposely let Conor go longer, he purposely stood with him, he wanted to punish him. Just because Conor went four rounds it doesn’t mean Khabib had a tougher time trying to finish him – Khabib wanted to punish Conor, he didn’t want to do that with Justin.”

It’s certainly not out of the question even though many observers do feel McGregor deserves credit for taking the fight that far as well as winning the third round.

In the end, it didn’t matter as he eventually lost to Nurmagomedov similar to 28 other opponents.

Do you believe that Nurmagomedov prolonged his fight with McGregor on purpose?

Javier Mendez Still Believes Conor McGregor Is A Tougher Fight For Khabib Nurmagomedov Than Justin Gaethje

Javier Mendez still thinks Conor McGregor is the toughest test for Khabib Nurmagomedov. Ahead of Nurmagomedov’s title defense against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, many pundits believe Gaethje will be the toughest test for the champ. However, for th…

Javier Mendez still thinks Conor McGregor is the toughest test for Khabib Nurmagomedov. Ahead of Nurmagomedov’s title defense against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, many pundits believe Gaethje will be the toughest test for the champ. However, for the AKA coach, he knows “The Highlight” is tough but believes McGregor is still the hardest matchup. […]

The post Javier Mendez Still Believes Conor McGregor Is A Tougher Fight For Khabib Nurmagomedov Than Justin Gaethje appeared first on MMA News.

Javier Mendez: Gaethje Is Nurmagomedov’s Second Toughest Opponent

Javier MendezThe head coach of American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) Javier Mendez believes Justin Gaethje is the second-best fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov has ever faced. The lightweight pair will unify the division at UFC 254 on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi later this month. Mendez notes Gaethje is a tough test but believes former dual weight UFC champion Conor […]

Javier Mendez

The head coach of American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) Javier Mendez believes Justin Gaethje is the second-best fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov has ever faced. The lightweight pair will unify the division at UFC 254 on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi later this month.

Mendez notes Gaethje is a tough test but believes former dual weight UFC champion Conor McGregor remains Nurmagomedov’s most dangerous opponent to date, although his opinion could be changed on October 24.

“Just without anything right now, I rank him second. But he could be number one easily,” Mendez told Submission Radio. “I rank him second behind Conor, but I could be wrong on that. He could be more dangerous than Conor. We’ll see. If we’re not able to take him to the ground, we’re going to have a fight on our hands, and I’m anticipating we’re gonna have a fight on our hands. Because if I don’t anticipate that and it does happen, I’m gonna be caught not thinking properly. So, I’m assuming that the process is, we can’t take him down, we have to stand with him. That’s what in my mind I’m assuming. But I’m hoping that’s not the case.”

Mendez went on to explain McGregor’s world class striking is what makes him a more dangerous opponent but if Gaethje is able to defend Khabib’s takedowns he would instantly become their toughest task to date.

“Well, Conor’s precision striking [makes him more dangerous than Gaethje]. To me, Conor is just the best striker ever in the lightweight division, I think personally,” Mendez said. “And Gaethje, with his wrestling, he creates a big problem, he really does. And his power and his guts. And I mean, hey, man, he’s coming to fight, he’s coming to fight. He’s not gonna run from you. He’s coming to you. And if you’re not fighting him, you’re not beating him. You have to fight him. You have to. And we’re prepared for that. We know what he brings to the table, he brings a lot. And I only rank him two only because of the unknown. If it was known that we could take him down no problem, then he wouldn’t be number one, Conor is. But what if we can’t take him down? Then obviously he takes that number one spot because then that would make it the most difficult fight we’ve ever had. And he could very well be number one.”

Do you agree with Javier Mendez? Is Conor McGregor a tougher opponent for Khabib Nurmagomedov than Justin Gaethje?

Javier Mendez Explains Why He Wants Daniel Cormier To Remain Retired

Javier Mendez hopes Daniel Cormier will stick to his retirement plan. Cormier is coming off a decision loss to Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 252 in their trilogy bout for the heavyweight title. In the lead up to the fight, he said it would be h…

Javier Mendez hopes Daniel Cormier will stick to his retirement plan. Cormier is coming off a decision loss to Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 252 in their trilogy bout for the heavyweight title. In the lead up to the fight, he said it would be his retirement fight. The hope for Cormier’s […]

The post Javier Mendez Explains Why He Wants Daniel Cormier To Remain Retired appeared first on MMA News.

Coach: Khabib Nurmagomedov Is The GOAT If He Beats Georges St-Pierre

Khabib NurmagomedovJavier Mendez, the head coach of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov believes a potential bout between his fighter and the former welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre would decide who is the greatest MMA fighter of all time. “Yeah, I think so, and so does Khabib,” Mendez said in Spanish when asked about the potential […]

Khabib Nurmagomedov

Javier Mendez, the head coach of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov believes a potential bout between his fighter and the former welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre would decide who is the greatest MMA fighter of all time.

“Yeah, I think so, and so does Khabib,” Mendez said in Spanish when asked about the potential fight on Monday’s episode of “Hablemos MMA.” “The person that beats GSP will be the best of all time; I think so.”

Nurmagomedov previously revealed he plans to fight ‘GSP’ in April and Mendez believes that fight is on the table right now.

“Yeah, it’s a big possibility,” Mendez said. “He might do that because all the times that I was with him and his dad, they’ve talked about those things: two more fights, 30-0.

“They want to a legacy fight, then be done and help the other guys that are starting their fighting careers. There’s great fighters, cousins of his who are great fighter like Umar and Usman Nurmagomedov. They’re his blood. They’re going to be great fighters. Islam Makhachev too.

“So he wants to help them get to the title. I don’t think he’ll fight beyond that, but anything is possible. I was a fighter too and when you’re finishing a career, you feel it in your heart, you want to fight more and it’s hard not to fight. I don’t think he’ll continue fighting, but anything is possible.”

Nurmagomedov is intent on honouring his late father by securing legacy fights against the likes of Georges St-Pierre.

“He doesn’t want that fight for money and that’s what his father wanted,” Mendez said. “He told me, ‘That’s what my father wants. What do you think coach?’ And I was like, ‘You know, if that’s what your father wants, we can do it, and if that’s what you want as well.’ And he’s like, ‘Yeah, I want to do it for my father, so I’m like, ‘Let’s do it.’

“But if he doesn’t want to end his career he can jump back in there. He’s young, he’s only 31, so he still has a more years of fighting. I’m not going to tell him he has to fight. I’m going to go with what he wants to do.” (Transcribed by MMA Junkie)

Do you think the winner of Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Georges St-Pierre would be the greatest MMA fighter of all time?

Javier Mendez Thinks Miocic vs. Cormier 3 Winner Will Get ‘Big Money Fight’ Against Jon Jones

American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez believes the winner of Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier III is in for a massive payday if either one accepts. Miocic and Cormier will collide for a third time in the main event of UFC 252 on Aug. 15. …

American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez believes the winner of Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier III is in for a massive payday if either one accepts. Miocic and Cormier will collide for a third time in the main event of UFC 252 on Aug. 15. Miocic is putting his heavyweight title on the line. […]

The post Javier Mendez Thinks Miocic vs. Cormier 3 Winner Will Get ‘Big Money Fight’ Against Jon Jones appeared first on MMA News.