When one of the most respected MMA coaches in the world speaks about his fighter’s character, discipline, and faith, the entire combat sports community listens. Javier Mendez, head coach at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) and the man who guided Khabib Nurmagomedov through his legendary UFC career, sat down on The Deen Show to take a quiz about Khabib and share powerful insights into how Islam shapes the undefeated champion as both a fighter and a human being.
Javier Mendez on the Unmatched Love People Have for Khabib
Javier Mendez has coached elite fighters for decades, including former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier. Yet he openly admits that nothing in his career compares to the outpouring of love and respect that Khabib receives from fans around the world. From a pilot who flew all the way from Dubai just to meet Khabib for one minute, to over a hundred supporters flooding the AKA gym chanting “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great) before his fights, the devotion Khabib inspires is unlike anything Mendez has ever witnessed in MMA.
“He gets more love by himself than anybody I’ve ever — all my people that I’ve ever had, all put together — and he still gets more love than they all do. It’s unbelievable.” — Javier Mendez on Khabib Nurmagomedov
How Islam Builds Discipline, Loyalty, and Character in Khabib
What makes Khabib different from every other fighter Mendez has trained is not just his skill on the mat — it is his unwavering faith and the discipline that flows from it. Mendez described a scene after Khabib’s historic victory over Conor McGregor: while the world was celebrating around him, Khabib quietly excused himself to go and pray. That moment reveals the depth of Khabib’s relationship with his Creator, a relationship that anchors everything he does — his humility, his loyalty to his teammates, and his refusal to compromise on his values. Mendez also highlighted the brotherhood among Khabib and his team, noting their unbreakable unity rooted in Islamic principles of loyalty and standing up for one another.
- Discipline through faith: Khabib managed his own nutrition and weight cuts for his last two fights, demonstrating the self-control and personal responsibility that Islam cultivates in its practitioners.
- Humility before God: After every fight, Khabib’s first words are “Alhamdulillah” — all praise and thanks belong to the Creator. As Mendez learned on the show, this is the Muslim expression of gratitude, similar to “Hallelujah.”
- Brotherhood and loyalty: Khabib told the UFC that if his teammates were punished while others were not, they could tear up his contract — he would never fight again. Mendez said he was “not lying” and backed him completely.
- Respect and role modeling: Mendez emphasized how important it is for MMA stars like Khabib to serve as positive role models, and noted that Khabib naturally fulfills this role because of the values Islam instills in him.
- Generosity and service: Even outside the octagon, Khabib donates to underprivileged communities and meets with world leaders, using his platform for good — a reflection of the Islamic emphasis on charity and responsibility.
The Javier Mendez Quiz: Learning the Words of Islam
“I’m not religious, but I believe in God, and I just believe in being good. I know God gives us the intelligence to know good from bad.” — Javier Mendez, after learning the meanings of Assalamu Alaikum (peace be with you), Alhamdulillah (all thanks to the Creator), and Allahu Akbar (God is Great)
Why Khabib’s Example Matters for the World
In a sport often overshadowed by trash talk and provocation, Khabib Nurmagomedov stands as living proof that faith, discipline, and respect are not weaknesses — they are the ultimate strengths. Javier Mendez, a non-Muslim coach who has spent years by Khabib’s side, testifies to the beauty of the character that Islam produces. From the way Khabib treats his father to the way he prays after battle, his life is a dawah — an invitation to understand what Islam truly means. As Mendez himself was invited to learn the Shahada and perhaps one day join Khabib on Hajj, the door remains open for everyone to explore the faith that built the greatest MMA fighter the world has ever seen.
