Recent perceived setbacks are raising questions about TeamNurmagomedov. | 📷: Getty/UFC
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Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov built one hell of a legacy.
The father of legendary former Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight champion KhabibNurmagomedov, Abdulmanap was the driving force behind his son’ssuccess. He trained Khabib from a young age and helped mold himinto a fighter frequently included in MMA’s greatest-of-all-timediscussions.
Several relatives and family friends also built successful careersin the sport. Most never approached Khabib’s accomplishments, butproducing even one fighter of his caliber is more than most coachesachieve. The fact that IslamMakhachev has developed a résumé comparable to Khabib’s placesAbdulmanap among the greatest trainers in MMA history.
Unfortunately, Abdulmanap did not live to see the full extent ofhis work. He died in July 2020 after experiencing complicationsrelated to Covid-19. Three months later, Khabib announced hisretirement following another successful title defense, saying hedid not want to continue without his father.
Khabib did not leave the sport entirely. He transitioned intocoaching and assumed a version of his father’s role, guidingMakhachev to UFC championships in two divisions.
Further success followed. UsmanNurmagomedov captured championships in BellatorMMA and the Professional Fighters League, while UmarNurmagomedov earned a shot at the UFC bantamweight title. Umarcame up short, but he was only 29 and appeared likely to receiveanother opportunity. Through Khabib, Abdulmanap’s influence seemedpoised to extend throughout the decade.
Even great MMA dynasties eventually fade
However, nothing in combat sports lasts forever.
Coaches do not face the same physical limitations as fighters, butno trainer remains at the top indefinitely. Their periods ofdominance can be surprisingly similar to the competitive windows oftheir athletes.
Consider some of MMA’s most celebrated coaches: Pat Miletich,Greg Jackson and AndrePederneiras. Each guided multiple fighters to UFCchampionships, but none occupies the same place in the modernconversation. Jackson and Pederneiras remain connected to thesport, yet it has been some time since one of their pupils stoodamong the UFC’s most prominent champions.
We may now be witnessing the beginning of a similar decline for theNurmagomedov team.
That does not mean everything will collapse immediately. It doessuggest, however, that the group’s peak might already havepassed.
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Islam Makhachev is starting to look vulnerable
Makhachev successfully defended his welterweight championshipagainst Ian Garrylast month, but he appeared more vulnerable than at any previouspoint during his record-setting winning streak. Unable tophysically overwhelm Machado Garry as he had many of hislightweight opponents, Makhachev escaped with a narrow victory.
His next challenger could be CarlosPrates or MichaelMorales, both of whom would present imposing physical tests.That has led to questions about whether Makhachev’s reign might beapproaching its final stages.
Umar Nurmagomedov’s knockout loss changes the equation
Umar still carried an aura of inevitability after losing toMerabDvalishvili in early 2025. Their meeting was among the closestfights of Dvalishvili’s extended winning streak, and Umar was neverbadly hurt. There was little shame in losing to one of the mostdominant bantamweight champions the UFC had seen.
That aura has now disappeared.
YadongSong knocked Umar unconscious with an uppercut this pastweekend. The immediate question is how Umar will respond.
Some fighters unravel after their first professional defeat, butUmar did not. He rebounded from the Dvalishvili loss by comfortablydefeating MarioBautista and DeivesonFigueiredo. A first knockout loss can present a differentpsychological challenge, however, and there is no guarantee thatUmar will return as the same fighter.
His championship prospects have also become more uncertain. If UFCdecision-makers are reluctant to promote his wrestling-heavy style,rebuilding toward another title shot could require a lengthywinning streak.
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The next generation has yet to fill the void
Makhachev and Umar are not the only notable fighters connected toKhabib’s team. There is a reasonable argument that UsmanNurmagomedov could be one of the world’s best lightweights.
Elsewhere, AbubakarNurmagomedov is no longer with the UFC, while TagirUlanbekov appears to have fallen short of early expectations.Several promising fighters remain outside the promotion, butstaying away from the UFC may limit their visibility and perceivedstanding.
That is not necessarily a criticism of their career decisions.Competing elsewhere might provide better financial opportunities.Fairly or unfairly, though, success outside the UFC often receivesless recognition from the broader MMA audience.
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team can still reverse the slide
It would not take much for Khabib’s team to reverse the currentnarrative.
Usman could enter the UFC and win the lightweight championship.Umar could produce a winning streak too convincing to ignore.Prospects such as IbragimIbragimov and RenatKhavalov could continue to turn heads.
That is an extensive list of things that would need to go right.Khabib’s team has enjoyed an extraordinary run of success, but suchperiods do not last forever. Other highly regarded camps havediscovered how quickly momentum can change.
The immediate downfall of Eagles MMA is hardly guaranteed, but somecracks are beginning to show. Once that happens, decline oftenfollows—gradually in some cases and suddenly in others.
There would be nothing shameful about that outcome. Every greatteam eventually recedes. Even American Top Team has maintained its longevity partly through arotating collection of coaches and fighters rather than oneuninterrupted generation.
The Nurmagomedov team’s slide may have begun. Still, Khabib hasrepeatedly demonstrated that counting him out is unwise, even whenhe is no longer the one competing.
Then again, like Khabib, Father Time remains undefeated.
