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EXCLUSIVE | Coach wants Khabib Nurmagomedov to fight Ferguson, GSP next, but retirement is also possible
This Saturday’s UFC 229 title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor is all anybody can talk about these days. This massive lightweight title fight between undefeated reigning champion and history-making former champion is dominating the headlines and airwaves, and is likely to continue doing so until well after the fight itself has drawn to a […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Khabib Nurmagomedov coach Javier Mendez praises ‘great fighter’ Conor McGregor
This Saturday night, in the main event of UFC 229, undefeated UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will attempt to defend his title opposite former UFC lightweight and featherweight champ Conor McGregor. While Khabib Nurmagomedov has faced some strong opposition in the past, such as Rafael dos Anjos, Michael Johnson, and Edson Barboza, Conor McGregor is […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Coach Javier Mendez is confident Khabib Nurmagomedov’s injury issues are in the past
Khabib Nurmagomedov has long been considered one of the best lightweights in the world, but for a time between 2014 and 2016, his standing in the division was seriously hurt by his inability to stay healthy. During that period, Khabib Nurmagomedov was scheduled for three fights — two with Donald Cerrone, and one with Tony […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Javier Mendez not confident Khabib Nurmagomedov will take ‘safe route’ and wrestle Conor McGregor
On October 6, in the main event of UFC 229, UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will attempt to defend his title against former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion Conor McGregor. Given that Conor McGregor is one of the most feared strikers in UFC history, many fans and pundits feel Khabib Nurmagomedov would be wise to […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Javier Mendez feels Conor McGregor crossed line with trash talk, but Khabib Nurmagomedov was not affected
The UFC 229 press conference, which featured UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and his upcoming opponent Conor McGregor, produced all of the trash talk and saber-rattling we anticipated. Most of that trash talk, of course, came from McGregor, who is as known for his gift of gab as he is for his fistic proficiency. While […]
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BJPENN.COM Radio Ep. 99 // Jimmie Rivera | Javier Mendez
BJPENN.COM Radio is back, Penn Nation! This episode kicks off with No. 5 ranked bantamweight in the UFC and one of the hungriest guys in the division, Jimmie Rivera. “El’ Terror” returns to the show to recap his win over John Dodson at UFC 228 and discuss what’s next as he continues on his quest […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Coach Javier Mendez breaks down Luke Rockhold vs. Chris Weidman rematch
In December of 2015, in the co-main event of UFC 194, Luke Rockhold stepped into the cage with Chris Weidman in hopes of capturing the UFC middleweight title. On that night, Rockhold succeeded on his mission, defeating Weidman by fourth round TKO. On November 3 of this year, on the main card of UFC 230 […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Coach Javier Mendez will support Daniel Cormier “100%” if he pursues Jones rematch
Last week, former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones stated that he hopes to fight his arch rival Daniel Cormier twice more before they both hang up the gloves for good. In the opinion of Daniel Cormier’s head coach Javier Mendez, however, Cormier does not need to fight Jones again. Having captured the light heavyweight […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Coach Javier Mendez explains how he’s reduced AKA fighter injuries by “50 percent”
As the home of current and former champions like Daniel Cormier, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Cain Velasquez and Luke Rockhold, American Kickboxing Academy is one of the very best MMA gyms in the world. It might even be the best in the world outright. If there has ever been a reason to knock the gym, however, it’s […]
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EXCLUSIVE | Javier Mendez assures Luke Rockhold will always be welcome at AKA
For many years, Luke Rockhold was one of the most visible and successful fighters training out of American Kickboxing Academy, and a crucial training partner to both Daniel Cormier and Cain Velasquez. Over the last year or so, however, Rockhold has done much of his training elsewhere. The former middleweight champion even did some training […]
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BJPENN.COM Radio Ep. 94 // Javier Mendez | Dominick Reyes | Curtis Blaydes
BJPENN.COM Radio is back, Penn Nation! We kick things off with head coach and founder of the American Kickboxing Academy, Javier Mendez. Grooming talented athletes into champions for over a decade, Javier is undoubtedly one of MMA’s most passionate coaches. We’ll talk shop with Mendez and get his take on several of his star pupils. […]