Khabib Nurmagomedov’s coach shares surprising take on Conor McGregor’s injury at UFC 329

Javier Mendez, the former head coach of Khabib Nurmagomedov, had a surprising take on Conor McGregor following UFC 329.

McGregor and Nurmagomedov were rivals in the UFC, and despite Nurmagomedov being retired for years, the Irishman has continued to take shots at him. Yet, after UFC 329, which saw McGregor hurt his knee just seconds into the fight, Mendez said he actually felt bad for the Irishman.

“To have a warrior like him train as hard as he did after a five-year layoff and come back, and to have something like that happen, your heart has to go out to the guy. Look, I may not like him as a person at times, but I have to respect what a great warrior he is. To see him go out that way is not the way I would want anyone to go out,” Mendez said to Submission Radio.

“You’d want him to go out doing what they came out there to do. Perform. Either the other man was the better man or you were the better man, but he beat himself on that one, and I feel for him. That’s not something I wouldn’t want for anybody. He deserved to either become victorious or lose to Max, but that’s the way it needed to go.”

It’s a surprisingly nice take from Javier Mendez, who said he wants to see the best fight and not injuries, even if Conor McGregor had said mean things towards Khabib Nurmagomedov and his team.

Conor McGregor ripped Khabib Nurmagomedov before UFC 329

Before McGregor made his return at UFC 329, he aimed at Nurmagomedov.

McGregor felt like Nurmagomedov shouldn’t be considered an all-time great, as he claimed he didn’t test himself or get knockouts, which he values.

“The guy’s done nothing in the sport. … Where is he now?” McGregor said to Complex. “He’s gone. I don’t rate him at all. The man has no courage; never fought above weight divisions, no stoppages, no knockouts.”

It is a bold take as Nurmagomedov is one of the greatest ever, but McGregor doesn’t think so, which makes Mendez’s comments even more surprising.

Are you surprised by Javier Mendez’s comments?