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<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nRecent perceived setbacks are raising questions about Team
\nNurmagomedov. | \ud83d\udcf7: Getty\/UFC<\/p>\n
Editor\u2019s note: The views and opinions expressed below are those
\nof the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of
\nSherdog.com, its affiliates and sponsors or its parent company,
\nEvolve Media.* * *
\n
\nAbdulmanap Nurmagomedov built one hell of a legacy.<\/p>\n
The father of legendary former Several relatives and family friends also built successful careers Unfortunately, Abdulmanap did not live to see the full extent of Khabib did not leave the sport entirely. He transitioned into Further success followed. Usman Even great MMA dynasties eventually fade Coaches do not face the same physical limitations as fighters, but Consider some of MMA\u2019s most celebrated coaches: Pat Miletich<\/a>, We may now be witnessing the beginning of a similar decline for the That does not mean everything will collapse immediately. It does Islam Makhachev is starting to look vulnerable His next challenger could be Carlos Umar Nurmagomedov\u2019s knockout loss changes the equation That aura has now disappeared.<\/p>\n Yadong Some fighters unravel after their first professional defeat, but His championship prospects have also become more uncertain. If UFC The next generation has yet to fill the void Elsewhere, Abubakar That is not necessarily a criticism of their career decisions. Khabib Nurmagomedov\u2019s team can still reverse the slide Usman could enter the UFC and win the lightweight championship. That is an extensive list of things that would need to go right. The immediate downfall of Eagles MMA is hardly guaranteed, but some
\nUltimate Fighting Championship<\/a> lightweight champion Khabib
\nNurmagomedov<\/a>, Abdulmanap was the driving force behind his son\u2019s
\nsuccess. He trained Khabib from a young age and helped mold him
\ninto a fighter frequently included in MMA\u2019s greatest-of-all-time
\ndiscussions.<\/p>\n
\nin the sport. Most never approached Khabib\u2019s accomplishments, but
\nproducing even one fighter of his caliber is more than most coaches
\nachieve. The fact that Islam
\nMakhachev<\/a> has developed a r\u00e9sum\u00e9 comparable to Khabib\u2019s places
\nAbdulmanap among the greatest trainers in MMA history.<\/p>\n
\nhis work. He died in July 2020 after experiencing complications
\nrelated to Covid-19. Three months later, Khabib announced his
\nretirement following another successful title defense, saying he
\ndid not want to continue without his father.<\/p>\n
\ncoaching and assumed a version of his father\u2019s role, guiding
\nMakhachev to UFC championships in two divisions.<\/p>\n
\nNurmagomedov<\/a> captured championships in Bellator
\nMMA<\/a> and the
\nProfessional Fighters League<\/a>, while Umar
\nNurmagomedov<\/a> earned a shot at the UFC bantamweight title. Umar
\ncame up short, but he was only 29 and appeared likely to receive
\nanother opportunity. Through Khabib, Abdulmanap\u2019s influence seemed
\npoised to extend throughout the decade.<\/p>\n
\n
\nHowever, nothing in combat sports lasts forever.<\/p>\n
\nno trainer remains at the top indefinitely. Their periods of
\ndominance can be surprisingly similar to the competitive windows of
\ntheir athletes.<\/p>\n
\n
\nGreg Jackson<\/a> and Andre
\nPederneiras<\/a>. Each guided multiple fighters to UFC
\nchampionships, but none occupies the same place in the modern
\nconversation. Jackson and Pederneiras remain connected to the
\nsport, yet it has been some time since one of their pupils stood
\namong the UFC\u2019s most prominent champions.<\/p>\n
\nNurmagomedov team.<\/p>\n
\nsuggest, however, that the group\u2019s peak might already have
\npassed.<\/p>\n
\n
\nMakhachev successfully defended his welterweight championship
\nagainst Ian Garry<\/a>
\nlast month, but he appeared more vulnerable than at any previous
\npoint during his record-setting winning streak. Unable to
\nphysically overwhelm Machado Garry as he had many of his
\nlightweight opponents, Makhachev escaped with a narrow victory.<\/p>\n
\nPrates<\/a> or Michael
\nMorales<\/a>, both of whom would present imposing physical tests.
\nThat has led to questions about whether Makhachev\u2019s reign might be
\napproaching its final stages.<\/p>\n
\n
\nUmar still carried an aura of inevitability after losing to
\nMerab
\nDvalishvili<\/a> in early 2025. Their meeting was among the closest
\nfights of Dvalishvili\u2019s extended winning streak, and Umar was never
\nbadly hurt. There was little shame in losing to one of the most
\ndominant bantamweight champions the UFC had seen.<\/p>\n
\nSong<\/a> knocked Umar unconscious with an uppercut this past
\nweekend. The immediate question is how Umar will respond.<\/p>\n
\nUmar did not. He rebounded from the Dvalishvili loss by comfortably
\ndefeating Mario
\nBautista<\/a> and Deiveson
\nFigueiredo<\/a>. A first knockout loss can present a different
\npsychological challenge, however, and there is no guarantee that
\nUmar will return as the same fighter.<\/p>\n
\ndecision-makers are reluctant to promote his wrestling-heavy style,
\nrebuilding toward another title shot could require a lengthy
\nwinning streak.<\/p>\n
\n
\nMakhachev and Umar are not the only notable fighters connected to
\nKhabib\u2019s team. There is a reasonable argument that Usman
\nNurmagomedov<\/a> could be one of the world\u2019s best lightweights.<\/p>\n
\nNurmagomedov<\/a> is no longer with the UFC, while Tagir
\nUlanbekov<\/a> appears to have fallen short of early expectations.
\nSeveral promising fighters remain outside the promotion, but
\nstaying away from the UFC may limit their visibility and perceived
\nstanding.<\/p>\n
\nCompeting elsewhere might provide better financial opportunities.
\nFairly or unfairly, though, success outside the UFC often receives
\nless recognition from the broader MMA audience.<\/p>\n
\n
\nIt would not take much for Khabib\u2019s team to reverse the current
\nnarrative.<\/p>\n
\nUmar could produce a winning streak too convincing to ignore.
\nProspects such as Ibragim
\nIbragimov<\/a> and Renat
\nKhavalov<\/a> could continue to turn heads.<\/p>\n
\nKhabib\u2019s team has enjoyed an extraordinary run of success, but such
\nperiods do not last forever. Other highly regarded camps have
\ndiscovered how quickly momentum can change.<\/p>\n
\ncracks are beginning to show. Once that happens, decline often
\nfollows\u2014gradually in some cases and suddenly in others.<\/p>\n