Daniel Cormier recently praised longtime friend Khabib Nurmagomedov for his lasting impact on MMA. He credited his former AKA teammate with sparking interest in his home region, which led to a rise of a new generation of elite fighters.
Cormier said Nurmagomedov helped change modern MMA with his fighting style. His pressure-heavy wrestling and strong conditioning set a new standard. Many fighters from Dagestan later followed that same approach.
During an appearance on WEIGHING IN, Cormier spoke about Nurmagomedov’s impact on the UFC and the sport as a whole. He said ‘The Eagle’ helped put Dagestan on the map in combat sports. Cormier added that the former lightweight champion still doesn’t get enough recognition for his influence.
“Khabib [Nurmagomedov] deserves more credit for what he did for that team and in that area,” Cormier said. “I don’t think people give him enough credit for what he means to that region of fighting. He really has changed the course of an entire country.”
Nurmagomedov retired in 2020 and transitioned into coaching soon after. He now works closely with AKA coach Javier Mendez. Together, they have helped guide several top contenders and champions.
Those fighters include two-division UFC champion Islam Makhachev, along with his cousins Umar and Usman Nurmagomedov.
Daniel Cormier Recalls Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Development
Daniel Cormier also spoke about how Khabib Nurmagomedov grew into the fighter fans later saw. He pointed out that Nurmagomedov’s path looked very different from how many fighters develop today.
Speaking with Josh Thomson on WEIGHING IN, Cormier said that Nurmagomedov arrived at AKA as a young and ambitious fighter. He described ‘The Eagle’ as focused and eager to learn. ‘DC’ also noted that the former UFC lightweight champion trained in a strong team setting.
“[Nurmagomedov was] just locked in and he’s learning every day and he’s picking your brain,” Cormier said. “He walks over to me or he walks over to Cain [Velasquez] and then he walks over to Luke [Rockhold] and [Jon] Fitch. And so, he was just constantly picking up information every chance he could.”
Cormier said Nurmagomedov made major strides at AKA. When he first arrived, his skill set focused on wrestling, while his striking needed work. Over time, he became a more complete fighter.
“[Nurmagomedov] got better here because when he first got here there, his striking wasn’t very good. He could wrestle and he could grapple, but that was just about it.”
Cormier Says Nurmagomedov Was Among AKA’s Homegrown Fighters
Cormier also explained that AKA didn’t attract many established fighters during that period. Most fighters at AKA learned and grew together from the start. Over time, many became champions at the same time.
AKA produced several UFC champions. That list includes Cormier, Nurmagomedov, Cain Velasquez, and Luke Rockhold. What made the team special, according to Cormier, was that they all trained together and rose through the ranks at the same time.
Cormier believes that kind of team culture will never be recreated in MMA.
“What we had, I don’t think will ever be replicated again in the sport of mixed martial arts,” Cormier told WEIGHING IN. “Khabib from when he got there to when he retired, inside of AKA. Dude, nobody was coming over as a developed guy. We were all in-house, homebuilt family.”
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