Why Khabib thought Makhachev was in serious trouble going into the Volkanovski fight

Khabib was worried ahead of Volkanovski vs Makhachev. Photo : Stephen R. Sylvanie – USA TODAY Sports

When lightweight champion Islam Makhachev stepped into the cage against Alexander Volkanovski, his long-time friend Khabib Nurmagomedov did not have his usual role as coach and training partner in the fight camp.

According to Makhachev’s coach Javier Mendez, Nurmagomedov was worried about his chances of winning the fight against the tough Volkanovski.

“Khabib would call me up and would say, ‘Coach, I’m really worried about this fight,” Mendez recently said(h/t MMA Mania). “‘Volkanovski is really tough, I’m concerned for Islam a little bit on this one.’ I was like, ‘I’m not, we’re going to win this fight. I don’t know how easy or how hard, but we’re going to win this fight. So, I know you’re worried Khabib, but I’m not worried.’”

“And he goes, ‘I know, I know, coach, but we know this is a tough fight, we have to prepare for a tough fight. I go, ‘Yeah, that’s true, but I still feel like we’re going to win.’ Fast forward to the fight, it was everything Khabib Nurmagomedov said that would happen in the fight, and it was a super tough fight.”

Read more: This is why Volkanovski turned down massive superfight: “The honest truth!”

Volkanovski vs Makhachev 2 could happen

Javier Mendez is certain that Volkanovski and Makhachev will fight in a rematch down the line.

“If the UFC puts that match together, it’s going to happen. It’s going to happen willingly on both parties. They’re going to want it, we’re going to want it and I would hope they [the UFC] would make it a huge event because that fight delivered. It was everything that was expected.”

Read more: 18 Combat Sports Stars Predict the Davis vs. Garcia Superfight!

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