“I don’t stop when I’m tired. I stop when I’m done.” That powerful mantra belongs to David Goggins—the former U.S. Navy SEAL turned motivational powerhouse—who’s become a symbol of unmatched mental toughness and relentless discipline. Goggins, once known for pushing himself to the brink through punishing workouts, has now stepped into the world of MMA, where he’s been spotted training elite fighters, helping them tap into deeper reserves of mental resilience.

Back in 2023, David Goggins grabbed headlines by cornering Tony Ferguson during his clash with Paddy Pimblett. Fast forward to earlier this year, he reemerged in the MMA spotlight, this time working with UFC star Israel Adesanya. Following his third straight loss, Izzy sought out the ex-Navy SEAL for a mental and physical reset. Their intense training sessions were so brutal that Adesanya reportedly pushed himself to the point of vomiting mid-workout. ‘El Cucuy’s outcome wasn’t much different.

Despite enduring David Goggins’ notoriously intense preparation, the veteran fighter came up short, losing a unanimous decision to a much younger Paddy Pimblett. The result sparked growing criticism over whether the International Sports Hall of Famer’s extreme training methods truly translate to MMA success.

One of the latest to weigh in is Javier Mendez—head coach of Khabib Nurmagomedov and founder of the American Kickboxing Academy. On a recent episode of the ‘Javier & Mo Show,’ Mendez made it clear: Goggins’ methods may inspire, but they don’t align with the demands of MMA.

“Now, the David Goggins thing? That’s extreme. That’s extreme, okay? That’s easy to pinpoint out. Any good coach would tell you: ‘That’s stupid. Don’t do that.’ Unless you really want to bring your mind to another level—but physically, you cannot continue to do that without breaking. You cannot do that type of training if you’re going to compete in MMA, because you will break. Your body will break.”

Still, Mendez didn’t completely dismiss David Goggins’ philosophy. He acknowledged its power when applied in the right context. “But if you’re doing that kind of training for endurance and mental capacity, it’s fantastic. It’s fantastic. But for competition? Your body will break,” explained Mendez.

The American’s involvement in MMA goes beyond just training fighters. He also shares a close bond with longtime UFC commentator Joe Rogan and has appeared multiple times on The Joe Rogan Experience. On the podcast, David Goggins has spoken openly about his rigorous experiences in various elite units of the U.S. military, including the Air Force and Navy—experiences that now fuel the mental resilience he tries to instill in fighters.

Despite the criticism surrounding his methods, both Israel Adesanya and Tony Ferguson have shown deep appreciation for Goggins’ influence. But how do they really feel about training under one of the toughest minds in the game? Let’s hear it from them.

Tony Ferguson and Israel Adesanya shared their experience training with David Goggins amid criticism

“I think it’s f–king stupid,” said Paddy Pimblett, reacting to Tony Ferguson’s decision to train with David Goggins. His criticism echoed a broader sentiment in the MMA community and among fans, many of whom have questioned the value of ex-Navy SEAL’s intense training methods for professional fighters. Despite the backlash, the fighters involved remain unapologetic. Reflecting on his own journey, the former UFC 155lbs champ described training with Goggins as “the hardest thing” he had ever done.

Yet, he stood by the experience, adding, “I’m glad I did it,” and affirming, “I need it.” Israel Adesanya shared a similar perspective, deeply appreciating the mental and physical push he received under the former Navy SEAL’s guidance. Recently, in a YouTube video, Izzy clapped back at critics, saying:

“People just don’t understand,” Israel Adesanya said. “Please, if you don’t know what you’re talking about, shut the f— up respectfully. And disrespectfully.” He also recalled, “It’s been a while since—I think the New York fight with [Alex] Pereira—that I puked during a workout.”

Now, turning to Coach Javier Mendez’s recent comments, do you agree with him? And what about Paddy Pimblett and Team Khabib’s criticism of David Goggins’ training style? Do you think Goggins’ methods are unsuitable for MMA fighters? Share your thoughts below.