Umar Nurmagomedov‘s coach, Javier Mendez, recently shared insights about the pressure surrounding his fighter ahead of UFC 321. The Dagestani athlete faces high expectations, not just from fans, but also from his family’s legacy.
Nurmagomedov is set to fight Mario Bautista in a bantamweight bout. He enters the octagon looking to bounce back from his first career loss. That loss came against Merab Dvalishvili in a bantamweight title fight earlier this year.
A strong performance might earn the winner a title shot. With Dvalishvili set to defend his title against Petr Yan at UFC 323, the timing becomes more crucial.
For Nurmagomedov, the stakes go beyond UFC 321. He carries the weight of his last name. His cousin, Khabib Nurmagomedov, retired undefeated with a 29-0 record and is a UFC Hall of Famer.
Meanwhile, his younger brother, Usman, is the reigning PFL lightweight champion and also remains undefeated at 20-0 (1 NC).
During an interview with MMA Junkie, Mendez spoke about the pressures that come with the Nurmagomedov name.
“There’s extreme pressure on [Nurmagomedov],” Mendez said. “You’ve got to understand, he carries the last name. There’s a big honor in that and [his brother] Usman is undefeated, Khabib is undefeated, he was undefeated, there’s a lot of pressure.”
Mendez noted that early comparisons to Khabib intensified expectations for Umar. He even fittingly gave him his nickname.
“He was doing what Khabib was doing at an earlier stage, so there was a lot of comparisons. I called him ‘Young Eagle.’ Come on, you’ve got to be realistic.”
Javier Mendez Confident Umar Nurmagomedov Will Be Victorious at UFC 321
Mendez is confident Nurmagomedov will get the job done against Bautista at UFC 321. The AKA coach praised ‘Young Eagle’s preparation and backed his potential.
Fighters often feel extra pressure after a loss, especially their first. However, Mendez believes Nurmagomedov grown from the setback. He’s seen a sharper, more focused version of ‘Young Eagle’, and is convinced that mindset shift will be the difference-maker.
“It was a physical and mental journey for him [following his first loss],” Mendez told MMA Junkie. “He’s such a fighter and fierce competitor, and he wants it. He showed it to us yesterday in his sparring.”
He continued:
“I base everything on their sparring, I don’t base it on what they think,” Mendez said. “I base it on how I see, what I feel, when I see, and I’ve seen some great sparring from him that it was unbelievable for me.”
Nurmagomedov Will Keep A Close Eye on UFC 323
Mendez hopes Nurmagomedov not only defeats Bautista but also leaves the octagon injury-free. After that, their focus shifts to UFC 323, where Dvalisvhili will defend his title against Yan.
Speaking to MMA Junkie, Mendez made it clear that he’s not rooting for Dvalishvili, despite the previous loss. His sights aren’t set on personal redemption, they are set on the bantamweight championship.
“After Petr Yan and Merab go, whoever the victor is, and I’m not pulling for any one guy or another because we’re not after anyone but the title,” Mendez said. “Whoever wins, that’s the best. That’s who we want.”
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