Luke Rockhold: Khabib Nurmagomedov aims to be coach of the year

The lightweight GOAT Khabib Nurmagomedov is retired from fighting, but promised he would not disappear. Now his AKA teammate, former Strikeforce and UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, tells TMZ Sports that “The Eagle” is serious.

He’s assuming this coaching role now,” said Rockhold. “He’s going off on me, wanting to coach me. He wants to be a big part of my comeback so it’s pretty funny to see Khabib assume this role. He’s going for Coach of the Year. That’s what he wants. He wants to be the next great thing, follow in his dad’s footsteps. That’s what his dad always did. His dad was always insightful and always had a good eye for the sport and I think Khabib is ready to assume that role.

Of course he can be a good coach. It’s like, sometimes you have to put yourself aside. Even if you know a lot, it’s better to be guided, like a mindless training if you trust in your coach, someone to direct you and put you in the right way, because no matter how much you know, sometimes you’ve got to step back and let somebody else direct the situation.

He knows how to press the pace. The thing with Khabib, he always pressed. The first day he showed up I was like, I like this kid. The first day he showed up by himself and I was like, he works hard. I was like, come with me, let’s do this, and he always pressed me to my limit. That’s what it really takes. You need someone to get on your back, press you, and he knows all the techniques and the routes to do so.

Rockhold has only one win in five years, has tried different camps, and tried moving up to light heavyweight unsuccessfully. So now it’s back to middleweight, working with an old teammate.

I think realistically, I think it’s summer time, late summer return, said Rockhold. I’ve got to get my body right. My shoulder has been an ongoing issue but it’s finally coming around and getting to a point where I have confidence in it to let it go. I’m pressing to get in shape and it feels good. It feels good to be back in the gym and I’m getting that fire back.