Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez’s longtime MMA coach has given his first public comments on Velasquez’s legal situation. Velasquez remains detained for attempted murder among other charges stemming from a February incident in…
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez’s longtime MMA coach has given his first public comments on Velasquez’s legal situation. Velasquez remains detained for attempted murder among other charges stemming from a February incident involving the alleged molester of his son at a nearby daycare. In a high-speed chase, Velasquez shot at Harry Goularte’s vehicle and…
Legendary mixed martial arts (MMA) coach Javier Mendez is gearing up for an additional new venture. Mendez is set to coach for the Hell’s Bay Fight League (HFL), a venture owned by Hyderabad based boxing promoters, TIAR. The HFL is described as a first-of-its-kind boxing promotion in conjunction with the Indian Boxing Council. As for…
Legendary mixed martial arts (MMA) coach Javier Mendez is gearing up for an additional new venture.
Mendez is set to coach for the Hell’s Bay Fight League (HFL), a venture owned by Hyderabad based boxing promoters, TIAR. The HFL is described as a first-of-its-kind boxing promotion in conjunction with the Indian Boxing Council.
As for Mendez’ role with the project, he’ll be coaching boxers competing for the promotion. He’ll also serve on the governing council of the league, planning training for each of the 36 boxers involved.
“There is no doubt that the Indian combat sports athletes are extremely talented, and this is pretty evident from the exemplary performances that Indians put up at the Olympics or the world championships.
“We have seen more and more people from India tuning into the sport and wanting more quality content from the region. It is high time that the talent that is available in India is provided with more local and international opportunities to make the sport commercially attractive for the entire community,” Mendez said.
Mendez is a wonderful selection by the HFL to help shape the promotion. He has coached some of the biggest stars in UFC history, such as Khabib Nurmagomedov and Daniel Cormier, to name just a couple.
He himself is a former kickboxing champion, winning world titles in 1992 and 1995. Now, he’ll continue to take that knowledge and pass it along to the next generation of combatants.
What do you think about Javier Mendez and his involvement in the HFL? Sound off in the comments section below!
Javier Mendez is confident that both of his pupils in Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev would beat Charles Oliveira with ease.
Oliveira is the current UFC lightweight champion and defended his belt for the first time in December with a submis…
Javier Mendez is confident that both of his pupils in Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev would beat Charles Oliveira with ease.
Oliveira is the current UFC lightweight champion and defended his belt for the first time in December with a submission win over Dustin Poirier. He is now likely to face Justin Gaethje sometime in the spring or summer. And should he win that, a bout against the winner of Makhachev-Beneil Dariush will be next.
Although Oliveira has looked dominant since he became the champ, American Kickboxing head coach Javier Mendez believes the former champ Nurmagomedov as well as Makhachev would be able to defeat the Brazilian.
“I know they both would beat Charles, in my opinion… Stylistically wise, Islam could strike, he can kick. Khabib wasn’t a great kicker,” Mendez said on his YouTube channel. “Khabib would have to go straight to the grappling with Charles and probably dominate him there. As a matter of fact, I know he would. I know Khabib would dominate him there. And I kind of feel, my personal opinion, as great as Charles is, I think Islam would dominate him there too.”
Of course, Nurmagomedov is retired and doesn’t seem too interested in ever returning to the Octagon again. However, there is a very real chance Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira fight in 2022 so we can see if the Dagestani fighter would really beat the Brazilian and become the new champion.
In order for him to even get the title shot, he will need to defeat Dariush in the main event of a Fight Night card on February 26. This is easier said than done, as Dariush has been on an incredible run. However, Mendez believes it is only a matter of time before Makhachev does what his longtime friend and teammate did: become the undisputed UFC lightweight champion.
Do you think Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov would beat Charles Oliveira?
Jake Paul has been teasing a transition to MMA, which he recently stated would include training with AKA.
Jake Paul has taken the world of boxing by storm. He burst onto the scene and began to dismantle former UFC fighters one by one. Now, he is te…
Jake Paul has been teasing a transition to MMA, which he recently stated would include training with AKA.
Jake Paul has taken the world of boxing by storm. He burst onto the scene and began to dismantle former UFC fighters one by one. Now, he is teasing a transition to MMA to continue his rise in combat sports.
Recently, he teased that he will be joining the top MMA gym American Kickboxing Academy (AKA). This is the home gym for UFC greats Khabib Nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier, and Cain Velasquez. Head coach of AKA Javier Mendez addressed this rumor of Paul joining the team in an interview with The Schmo.
“It could happen. But like anybody, we have to go through all the coaches and all the fighters that are here,” Mendez explained. “And anybody that’s a famous athlete like him, they would go through the routine that everybody does. So he would have to get voted by everybody—not everybody. If there’s one person in particular that doesn’t want him here for that particular reason, he can’t be here.”
Although Mendez is impressed with what Paul has been able to do so far in the boxing world, that doesn’t mean he will have the same effect in MMA. AKA has been the home to many top-ranked UFC fighters over the years but the addition of Paul could make some new waves for the gym. Mendez likes the fire Paul has lit for himself so far but says there have yet to be any actual discussions of Paul joining the team.
“First of all, he’s never asked. What he’s done is he’s marketed himself out there beautifully,” Mendez said. “I love the plug he gave us. I think it was a fantastic plug, and I think he is a fantastic person, and I think that he markets himself fantastic. I love what he does. He creates interest. How could you not like a guy who creates interest?”
Although there seems to be some level of interest from both parties, the deal to have Paul join the likes of Nurmagmoedov is far from set. Paul was involved with a public spat with AKA alum Daniel Cormier last year. The animosity between these two could be one thing that prevents the YouTuber from joining the AKA ranks, as everyone at AKA would have to sign off on his membership.
“I sent him a text of encouragement, a heartfelt message. I felt it was the right type of message to send because it was legit,” Mendez said. “And he, in turn, returned the favor by talking about training with us. But the reality is that no matter who you are, it could be the greatest fighter whatever you still have to go through the team to consent to train with us.”
Would you like to see Paul join AKA and begin his MMA career under Mendez and Nurmagomedov?
AKA Coach Javier Mendez has squashed rumours that Jake Paul is or has been training at the American Kickboxing Academy, however, the experienced Mendez hasn’t closed the door on the idea of Paul potentially stepping inside the walls of AKA. In a recent interview with TheSchmo Coach Mendez was asked about Jake Paul and whether […]
AKA Coach Javier Mendez has squashed rumours that Jake Paul is or has been training at the American Kickboxing Academy, however, the experienced Mendez hasn’t closed the door on the idea of Paul potentially stepping inside the walls of AKA.
In a recent interview with TheSchmo Coach Mendez was asked about Jake Paul and whether the speculation was true. In the build-up to Jake Paul Vs. Tyron Woodley 2, Paul expressed his desire to switch over to MMA at some point stating that Coach Mendez and Khabib Nurmagomedov were both 100% willing to train him. Just recently Paul uploaded a video to social media of him practicing throwing leg kicks, leaving many followers speculating if we may see his MMA debut in 2022.
Fast forward to now, and this is what Mendez had to say about Jake Paul potentially making that switch one day.
“It could happen, but like anybody you know we have to go through all the coaches and all the fighters that are here, and anybody that’s a famous athlete like him they would go through the routine that anybody does so he would have to get voted by everybody, not everybody but if there’s one person, in particular, that doesn’t want him here for that particular reason he can’t be here so everyone would have to vote.”
Javier Mendez Open To Jake Paul Joining AKA
Although it appears Mendez is open to the idea of helping Paul and speaks very highly of the undefeated boxer, he knows nothing will come of these rumours just yet as Paul himself is still yet to ask to work together. It would also need the approval of everyone at AKA before Paul could join the ranks there.
“First of all, he’s never asked, what he’s done is he’s marketed himself out there beautifully, I love the plug he gave us, I think it’s a fantastic plug and I think he’s a fantastic person. And I think he markets himself fantastic, I love what he does. He creates interest, how can you not like a guy who creates interest. I sent him a text of encouragement and a heartfelt message.
“I felt like it was the right type of message to send because it was legit, and he gave me a great return in favour by talking about training with us, but the reality is no matter who you are, you could be the greatest fighter ever you still have to go through the team to get consent to train with us, so that’s what we’ve always done.
“He hasn’t been given consent because he hasn’t asked, it’s not that he won’t I don’t know, I just know he hasn’t asked and if he does get denied, he won’t know who denied him because we don’t say that we just say, you know it’s not meant for you at this time.”
Paul is yet to announce his next adventure in boxing with it seeming likely he will take some time off in 2022 given his hectic previous year. Is now the right time for him to try and make the switch?
American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez is not sure who will get the lightweight title shot between Islam Makhachev and Justin Gaethje.
Mendez has been coaching and singing the praises of Makhachev for a while, even starting the rumors…
American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez is not sure who will get the lightweight title shot between Islam Makhachev and Justin Gaethje.
Mendez has been coaching and singing the praises of Makhachev for a while, even starting the rumors that he is better than his close friend and former lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov. With these two vouching for him, Makhachev has gotten something of the fast track through the UFC rankings, securing a place in the top five before he even took out a top-ten opponent.
With Makhachev securing a quick win over Dan Hooker and Justin Gaethje scoring a victory in a war with Michael Chandler, there has been a bit of a debate on which of these two deserves the title shot. While speaking on his podcast, Mendez says that he is not sure who will end up getting the title shot, but the UFC is going to decide based on who brings in the most money, as they usually do.
“If the fans want it, the UFC will put it on. It’s a matter of not what coach thinks, not what Justin [Gaethje] thinks – It’s what makes the most money. And if it’s Justin that makes the most money for the UFC, that’s who’s gonna get it. The UFC is not making decisions based on anything but what fits in their pocketbook,” Mendez said (h/t Sportskeeda).
After this, Javier Mendez directed his attention to the way that the UFC runs things, saying that they are not a real promotion. He says this is the case in all MMA organizations though, not holding anything against the UFC in particular.
“That’s what they do. And you know what, it’s not a legit promotion; no promotion is. No fight promotion is legit. None. So, don’t think I’m bashing on one or the other. I’m not bashing on anyone. I just understand how promotion does, and what they do, and what they have to do,” Mendez said.
“The UFC is a great promotion, but that’s the politics of the game. And Bellator is a great promotion, but if they were in pay-per-view, that’s the politics of the game for them, too. That’s just the way it goes. Not bashing anybody; just stating facts.”
The point that Javier Mendez seems to be making here, is that there are good reasons for both Islam Makhachev and Justin Gaethje to get the title shot. However, in the end, the UFC will do whatever they think is best for the promotion.