Nurmagomedov to corner Makhachev at UFC 302

Khabib Nurmagomedov will be in Islam Makhachev's corner for the lightweight champion's title defense against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 on Saturday in Newark, Makhachev revealed Tuesday.

"Eagle has landed in Jersey City. He's gonna be in my corner," Makhachev said.

"Honestly, I'm very happy, because he's one of the best corner, coach, brother, friend. That's it."

Nurmagomedov reduced his role as a coach in early 2023 and didn't serve as a cornerman in Makhachev's last two fights, victories over then-featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski in February and October last year. Nurmagomedov, who had cornered Makhachev in his 2022 title win and before that, was still part of his training camps but didn't travel to the events.

Nurmagomedov and Makhachev are longtime teammates and friends. Nurmagomedov - a UFC Hall of Famer and former lightweight champion - began coaching several fighters after retiring from MMA in 2020. Two years after he vacated the title, Makhachev won it himself.

Nurmagomedov can give Makhachev strong advice on how to beat Poirier; he fought the American in September 2019 in his own 155-pound title defense. He submitted Poirier with a rear-naked choke in the third round at UFC 242. Nurmagomedov went on to beat Justin Gaethje the following year and suddenly announced his retirement at 29-0, cementing himself as one of the greatest fighters of all time.