Islam Makhachev Is the Only One Who Troubled Khabib in Sparring, Reveals Their Gym’s Owner

What happens when the student faces his master? It’s a tough question to answer when the men involved are Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov. The pair have trained together since the start of their MMA careers. In fact, ‘The Eagle’ is Makhachev’s mentor, guiding him throughout his dominant UFC run. Still, who would win?

While a fight between them is no longer possible, with Khabib retiring in 2020, chatter from inside the gym reveals some fascinating details. Their longtime trainer, Javier Mendez, claims, “When Islam first started training, he was the only person that actually gave Khabib any trouble sparring.” To further support this narrative, Red Corner MMA spoke with the gym’s owner.

Did Islam really trouble Khabib Nurmagomedov?

Speaking to Red Corner MMA, Mike Swick—who also owns AKA Thailand—confirmed that Makhachev stood out during sparring sessions with the former UFC lightweight champion. “Yeah, yeah. He’s the only one that gave Khabib any kind of competition and trouble pretty much in the gym,” Swick said when asked to verify Javier Mendez’s earlier remarks.

When pressed on where Islam Makhachev troubled Khabib the most, Swick pointed to striking. “Striking more so, in my opinion,” he told Red Corner MMA. “Khabib might have a different opinion, but the one thing he’s a little more proficient in than where Khabib came from was striking.”

While acknowledging Nurmagomedov’s elite grappling, Swick stressed that Makhachev was right there with him overall. “I give Khabib the edge on basics and being better on the ground, but on the feet, Islam was more natural and started a little bit earlier,” he explained.