There are training camps and then there are those led by ‘The Eagle’! And as Islam Makhachev prepares for the biggest fight of his career at UFC 322, the MMA sphere just got a hilarious peek at what happens when Khabib Nurmagomedov lands in town. In just a few weeks, Makhachev will attempt to join the ultra-exclusive club of two-division UFC champions. But before stepping into Madison Square Garden to face welterweight king Jack Della Maddalena, he’s spending his final camp days in New York under the watchful, unforgiving eye of his mentor and friend.

The video shared by RedCornerMMA on X sums it up perfectly as Nurmagomedov holds the camera, drilling Makhachev with questions mid-roll. He asked, “Islam, second question, how’s the preparation going? What’s new in your training? What’s different?” and the former lightweight champion quickly fired back with a grin, “Everything was fine until you arrived two days ago.”

Coach or tyrant? Khabib Nurmagomedov’s ‘no nonsense’ approach to training

Like his father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, Khabib is infamous for his unforgiving coaching methods. There’s a clip of him shared by coach Javier Mendez of AKA, showcasing ‘The Eagle’ as a coach making the team do push ups after what seemed like an already intense training session. “[If] someone [is] tired, you can go home.” Then, upon being asked, if there was anything else they could do if they were tired, besides going home, ‘The Eagle’ replied, “Cry! If someone [is] tired, they can cry!” 

Khabib’s ‘no nonsense’ approach to training was also featured in Demetrious Johnson’s Mighty YouTube series, where he claimed that he “broke” his cousin Abubakr Nurmagomedov’s computer. The reason? Abubakr ended up losing a fight because he was playing too much PUBG with ‘Mighty Mouse’ online. The moment, although hilarious, shows that the former lightweight champion doesn’t mess around when it comes to his fighters’ training, and their success rates.

The latest moment featuring Khabib putting Islam through the grind was playful, but also telling. When Khabib Nurmagomedov joins camp, things go from disciplined to relentless. For context, Makhachev has spent most of 2025 transforming his body for welterweight glory. The former lightweight king didn’t just move divisions; he vacated his 155-lb crown after four successful defenses to chase greatness at 170.

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And as he explained to ESPN MMA, bulking hasn’t been easy, “I finally became a little bit big now because I tried to like the last couple of months. It’s very hard. I used like creatine, protein after every training. You try to eat more, but it’s very hard when you train twice a day. When you’re training hard it’s very hard to gain weight.” In fact, in the recent clip with ‘The Eagle’, he even states, “How is it not different? More weight, Berkhamov weights 91 kilos. Before I worked with a guy who weighed 84, 83 max.”

This duo has built an empire on pressure, and discipline backed by brotherhood and friendship. The idea that training was “fine” until Nurmagomedov arrived is exactly why they remain undefeated together. When the greatest lightweight ever walks in, comfort disappears and championship habits sharpen. During his conversation with ESPN, he even admitted that making the lightweight limit was very taxing on his body and that, “I still feel my recovery for the fight like maybe 70-60 percent because it’s so hard to recovery by 30 hours, now I’m very excited to see how I’m going to feel in the cage.” But it’s not just him that’s excited, as we now shift our focus over to what the netizens had to say!

Fans in a frenzy as ‘The Eagle’ joins Islam Makhachev’s camp for UFC 322

One fan wrote, “Crazy to think he is going to be welterweight champ in less than a month.” They’re already penciling Islam Makhachev’s name into history books. With his prior dominance at lightweight and his camp saying he’s finally fighting fully fueled, fans see this as the start of another reign. And with ‘The Eagle’ in his corner again, it’s no surprise that confidence turns into expectation.

Another fan fired back, “Can’t wait for Ilia to add him to his body count.” It seems that Ilia Topuria‘s shadow always creeps into Makhachev-related discussions. Fans clearly remember Topuria claiming he’ll tackle another weight class to chase the Dagestani juggernaut. But first, Makhachev must conquer JDM!

A confused fan chimed in with, “Why don’t you like this guys?” It appears that some viewers misread Islam Makhachev’s joking tone, thinking he was actually annoyed. But Dagestani banter is different. This reaction highlights how outsiders sometimes miss the cultural nuance between Islam and Khabib’s brother-like bond.

Another supporter cheered, “Let’s goo Islam for the win.” Pure hype. No breakdown. No debate. Just energy. Fans love champions, and with a large portion of the MMA sphere behind him, the roar is global. Belief fuels fighters, and Islam Makhachev’s supporters are vocal and ready.

Finally, a curious user asked, “Where is this from?” As per reports about the Dagestani camp, the clip came from New York’s Iron Army Academy, proof that Makhachev is already stateside, locked in, and grinding. Fans eager for behind-the-scenes access flock to these rare camp moments, especially when ‘The Eagle’ is the one holding the camera!

And so, Islam Makhachev is laughing in the gym. He’s eating freely. He’s lifting heavy. He’s sparring with bigger men. And Khabib Nurmagomedov just walked into the room to turn the dial up even higher. The road to Madison Square Garden isn’t gentle, but champions aren’t forged in comfort. What do you think? Is Makhachev about to carve his name into history as a two-division king? Or will welterweight prove to be a mountain even the Dagestani phenom can’t climb? Let us know in the comments below!