Khabib Nurmagomedov, the former undefeated king of the UFC lightweight division, lit the torch for Dagestani dominance in MMA. But as the torch passed, Islam Makhachev has carried it with a finesse that has sparked debate among fans and experts alike. The looming showdown at UFC 311, where Makhachev faces Arman Tsarukyan in a highly anticipated rematch, only fuels the fire.

Yet, a surprising twist has emerged. Arman Tsarukyan’s coach, Roma Kalantaryan, shared a perspective that some may see as a snub to ‘The Eagle.’ When asked to compare Khabib and Makhachev, Kalantaryan didn’t mince words!

Arman Tsarukyan’s coach ignites debate over Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev’s fighting style

The conversation started with a question on the Russian YouTube channel, ‘Ushatayka’: how would Tsarukyan fare against ‘The Eagle’ rather than Islam Makhachev? Kalantaryan paused, then spoke with the careful tone of a man weighing legends. “To tell the truth, I really love Khabib. You know, he is a legend,” he began, almost reverently.

But the coach didn’t stop there. He ventured into controversial territory, offering a take that has raised eyebrows. Kalantaryan stated, “I think Islam has a much better stance than Khabib. He is much better in the wrestling, I don’t think Islam is as good as, well very good, of course. But right in the stance, I think Islam is much better.”

The term ‘stance’ here could be referring to Islam Makhachev’s striking style as a southpaw. Nurmagomedov is renowned for his suffocating grappling, a skill honed through years of combat sambo and freestyle wrestling. And while Makhachev is no slouch when it comes to grappling, boasting a 47% submission rate in the UFC, his striking skills are clearly on a different level when compared to ‘The Eagle’. 

As such, Kalantaryan wasn’t shy about pointing out that Nurmagomedov’s striking, while effective, lacked the polish Makhachev has developed. The evidence? Against opponents like Alexander Volkanovski and Charles Oliveira, he displayed sharp counters, precise jabs, and a composure that kept him in control. While ’The Eagle’s striking was serviceable, it often served as a gateway to his wrestling dominance. Makhachev, on the other hand, uses striking as a weapon in its own right. 

Despite Kalantaryan’s claim, it’s impossible to ignore the shared Dagestani grappling pedigree. Nurmagomedov’s suffocating style, honed under the guidance of his late father Abdulmanap, was built to break opponents mentally and physically. Makhachev, while not as aggressive, has adopted a more surgical approach, using his grappling as a calculated weapon rather than an overwhelming force.

Their methods may differ, but both remain masters of their craft. Yet, even as ‘The Eagle’ has taken on the duties of coaching ‘Team Khabib’ after his father’s passing, he has the same energy he brought to the cage to his training approach!

Javier Mendez reveals a glimpse of ‘The Eagle’s intense coaching persona  

Khabib Nurmagomedov, the once-unstoppable force inside the Octagon, has taken his tenacity and molded it into a coaching style as relentless as his fighting career. At UFC 311, he steps into the corner, not the cage, guiding Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov in their title pursuits. But how does his approach stack up against his late father, Abdulmanap?

Javier Mendez, his mentor and head coach at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), painted a vivid picture of the Dagestani icon’s coaching transformation in a recent conversation with ‘Action Network’. Mendez stated, “Khabib is very hands-on with Islam – that’s one thing his father and I did not do”

But what does the different approach look like? The AKA head coach further elaborated, “I didn’t interact with the fighters on that level. I interact with them on a mental level and on working with them on punching and kicking. But Khabib interacts with these guys on every single level. He can go from striking to the ground.”

This immersive approach might sound exhausting, and it often is. Even Islam Makhachev couldn’t resist poking fun at his mentor’s intensity! In a light-hearted exchange, Makhachev while talking to Daniel Cormier stated, “Maybe you can come join us and control him a little bit because he doesn’t listen to Javier.”

In conclusion, the torch may have passed, but the debate burns brighter than ever. As Khabib Nurmagomedov steps into his role as coach, guiding Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311, the question of legacy takes center stage. Can Makhachev’s polished striking and methodical approach outshine the relentless grappling dominance that defined ‘The Eagle’? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!