.png)
Despite fans' excitement over the prospect of a grappling showdown between UFC legends Khabib Nurmagomedov and Georges St-Pierre, Khabib's coach, Javier Mendez, believes it's unlikely to happen.
The possibility arose when St-Pierre announced his participation in a UFC Fight Pass Invitational no-gi jiu-jitsu match on December 14, but as of now, an opponent has not been confirmed.
Mendez revealed that Khabib Nurmagomedov is prioritizing his family and has vowed to spend more time with them. While the grappling match would not be a full-fledged fight, Mendez knows Khabib takes every challenge seriously, and participating in such an event would demand significant time and focus.
"I don't know if Khabib would do the competition because he stated that his family is what it's all about," Mendez shared in an interview with MMA Junkie. "More devoted time for the family, and knowing him, any challenge is a work. So he's going to have to stay focused on one particular thing. He's not going to take it lightly if he does. So, I don't see that happening, but I could be wrong."
Although Khabib has retired from professional MMA, he remains active on the mats and continuously trains in grappling. Mendez attested to Khabib's dedication, mentioning that he frequently grapples with up-and-coming fighters to help elevate their skills.
"Khabib is always training," Mendez emphasized. "It's not like he doesn't grapple. He grapples all the time. So, he hasn't stopped training, he just doesn't train to fight. But he still does his cardio, he still grapples with the guys because he always tells me, 'How are the guys going to get ready for my level if they never know my level?'"
While the dream matchup between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Georges St-Pierre remains uncertain, Mendez acknowledged that it could pique Khabib's interest. His commitment to honing his grappling skills has benefited his teammates tremendously, as Khabib continues to share his expertise with fellow fighters at Team Khabib.
Comments