Home » UFC » “Could be a pro” – Javier Mendez is convinced of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s football abilities after training session

Khabib Nurmagomedov has been showing off his football abilities in the recent months

Khabib retired as a legend of the sport a couple of months ago. The Russian never tasted defeat in his entire life, raking up 29 victories and losing none.

He decided to hang up his gloves after beating Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, since he had promised his mother that he wouldn’t continue fighting without his late father by the ringside.

His retirement was made official on the 18th of March, by UFC President Dana White himself.

Since then Khabib has been actively coaching his brothers and fellow Dagestanis to victories in various MMA promotions, notably the UFC.

Khabib Nurmagomedov is a legend of the sport.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is a legend of the sport. (imago Images)

Being a big fan of football, he also posts videos and photos of him and his mates playing the ‘Beautiful Game’.

In a recent Instagram post by his coach Javier Mendez, Khabib can be seen asking for a video clip after performing a slick skill move, even as Mendez praises ‘The Eagle’s’ footballing skills.

Mendez can be heard saying:

“Hey honestly you can play. You are a good player…You could be a pro.”

Khabib then goes on to say that he would become a good player if he loses some weight and gets the footballer’s mentality.

Towards the end of the video, a dejected Khabib leaves after his mates fail to capture his skill move on camera.

Mendez then explained on Instagram that he had the move filmed, but accidentally erased it because of his ‘poor editing skills’.

Mendez also mentioned that they had wanted fellow fighter Manel Kape to see the video, since he had claimed that he was better than Khabib at football.

Mendez’s post read:

“I thought I would post this video of the Eagle playing football barefoot with the Team because @khabib_nurmagomedov made a beautiful move that actually was very impressive. So I tried to cut my video just to show the move & I accidentally erased the shot where he looked great. He is asking the guys if they have it on video and I actually did have it filmed and I was going to post it so @manelkape would see that the Eagle can actually play as well as having knowledge on football. Now you guys will just have to take my word the Eagle can play football #rookiefilmediter #historyerased.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/COZAI0Ehagn/

‘Loyal’ Khabib Nurmagomedov asks Daniel Cormier if Ali Abdelaziz could manage Jon Jones

Jon Jones recently parted ways with his management team, First Round Management, of which he had been a part, for 11 long years.

Now it has left a question in everyone’s mind – Who will be Jones’ next manager?

In the wake of this, Khabib had asked Daniel Cormier if it was okay for him, in case Ali Abdelaziz (Khabib’s manager) decides to manage Jones.

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Daniel Cormier are close friends
Khabib Nurmagomedov and Daniel Cormier

Cormier spoke about this in the recent DC & Helwani Show, explaining how loyal a friend ‘The Eagle’ is.

DC said:

“That’s Khabib man. The dude is the most loyal friend that you’ll ever find in your entire life. And if somebody is on the outside of mine, he ain’t messing with it. That’s him in a nutshell.”

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