Javier Mendez Blames Himself for Umar Nurmagomedov's Knockout Loss

Javier Mendez is taking the blame for the first knockout loss of Umar Nurmagomedov's career. Speaking in Abu Dhabi, the coach said the habit that cost his fighter against Song Yadong is one he now has to correct himself.

Song stopped Nurmagomedov in the UFC Fight Night 286 main event in August. The 30-year-old was dipping to his left when an uppercut landed, and the same movement had nearly cost him in earlier fights.

What puzzles Mendez is that the mistake never appears in the gym. As he described it, Nurmagomedov turns away when a shot comes at him instead of driving straight in on his takedown. The coach said it happened twice against Mario Bautista and once more in another bout, yet "he doesn't do it in training."

"It's a mental little twitch we have to work on," Mendez said. "I've got to tell you, I blame me on that one. I have to. I have to blame me because it's something that I have to think about, and I have to put it in his head because I'm the mental guy."

Back on the mats, then the climb back

Nurmagomedov, now 20-2 overall and 8-2 in the UFC, will stay active, but on the mats. He meets UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber at RAF Abu Dhabi on Nov. 14.

Mendez wants him back in competition soon, on two conditions: the doctors clear him and he is mentally fine. If the RAF match is his way of "getting on the horse as soon as possible," the coach is for it.

The former title challenger still has ground to make up. Mendez said one fight will probably not be enough to earn another title shot, unless it comes against someone like Sean O'Malley, a matchup he doubts O'Malley would see as a smart move. He has no specific opponent in mind and expects Song to be the next challenger for the belt.

"I still in my heart believe that he's the heir to that throne, and I'm not giving up on that till he gives up on it – and he has not," Mendez said, adding that Khabib Nurmagomedov and the rest of the team stand behind Umar.

Source: MMA Junkie