Khabib Nurmagomedov has brought his famously brutal standards into coaching since retiring unbeaten in 2020. He now drives a new generation of Dagestani fighters with the same intensity that defined his career. Among them is his cousin Usman Nurmagomedov, the undefeated Professional Fighters League lightweight champion.
Usman, now 21-0, recently defended his title in Dubai by submitting Alfie Davis. Despite his dominance, he says training under Khabib remains exhausting. Usman explained that even when he feels weak or tired, Khabib pushes him to keep going, often adding long grappling sessions after full practices. He said it is difficult to convince Khabib to ease off, joking that his cousin is “trying to kill us.”
Usman compared Khabib’s approach to that of his late father, Abdulmanap, saying his father was easier in training. Still, he credits Khabib’s pressure for helping fighters grow and exceed their limits. Khabib believes the hard work is justified and has even claimed Usman is a more complete fighter than Ilia Topuria, though he says only a fight could truly settle that debate.
