Khabib Nurmagomedov’s coach Javier Mendez believes that Conor McGregor will beat Michael Chandler if the pair lastly struggle.
Mendez was in Khabib’s nook when the now-retired Russian submitted McGregor in 2018, within the greatest bout in UFC historical past. With that outcome, Nurmagomedov retained the UFC light-weight title and stayed unbeaten, and he would retire undefeated and as champion two years later.
McGregor has fought 3 times since, stopping Donald Cerrone in 2020 earlier than struggling back-to-back losses to Dustin Poirier in 2021. In the latter struggle, the Irishman sustained a damaged leg, and he’s but to return.
That is regardless of February’s announcement of a struggle between McGregor and American Chandler, a bout that continues to be delayed. In any case, Mendez, 52, has weighed in on how the struggle would possibly play out.
“I favour Conor, only because Chandler likes to entertain and he’s going to stand more than he should,” the American advised Lord Ping. “If Chandler fought the way he could fight, I’d go with Chandler. But Chandler is such a great entertainer, he’s going to give Conor what he wants: doing more stand-up than he should.
“Conor is the sharpshooter out of the two. Chandler brings war every time, but I don’t think this is the right type of fight for him. He needs to come in Khabib-style, that’s the way to go with Conor. Basically: shoot [for a takedown], shoot, shoot, punch. Never let him settle.
“Always let him know you’re going to take him down, so he doesn’t settle, so he doesn’t get comfortable on his feet.”
Mendez additionally warned Chandler, 37, of the benefit that McGregor, 35, appears to be like to realize by means of verbal warfare.
“I’d tell Chandler, ‘Don’t allow Conor’s war of words to get [you] upset,’ because he’s a master at that,” Mendez stated. “And that’s one thing we prepared for from the very first day that Khabib-McGregor was announced.
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“I told Khabib every day, ‘He’s going to come after your family, religion and your country.’ We talked about that for months leading up to the fight, and – sure enough – [Mcgregor] did what any scumbag fighter would do.
McGregor shoved Michael Chandler during a face-off this summer
(@UFCEurope via Twitter)
“If you’re a scumbag fighter, you come after those things, and you shouldn’t. Come after the fighter, fine, but using country and religion should never be allowed. This is a competition. It’s not life or death, but you’re making it life or death by bringing in religion and country. I wish fighters would never do that.”
After a heated build-up to their struggle, Khabib submitted McGregor within the fourth spherical in October 2018. Khabib would then submit Poirier in September 2019 and Justin Gaethje in October 2020, retaining the light-weight title in every struggle.
Immediately after the latter bout, Nurmagomedov introduced his retirement from MMA on the age of 32. Mendez nonetheless trains Islam Makhachev, a childhood good friend of Khabib who now reigns as UFC light-weight champion.
