Khabib Nurmagomedov used a recent appearance on a 3-hour episode of Lex Fridman’s podcast to reflect on his grappling journey and to single out John Danaher as a coach whose results speak for themselves.
“John has one of the best students in the world, and after all, they don’t just take some random place. I mean, they’re not somewhere in the middle. They’re at the top – and look at their whole approach,” Khabib said, framing Danaher’s coaching record as evidence of a system built for excellence rather than luck.
The conversation soon turned to Roger Gracie, and Khabib was quick to put him in the same class of elite talent. “Roger, he’s the greatest, too. He’s the greatest in his own sport. What makes a person unique is his style, his style and his approach to his work,” he said, tying both Danaher and Gracie together under a shared standard of mastery.
Much of Khabib’s respect for high-level grappling traces back to his early years training alongside his brother, Abdurakhman. Watching him finish an opponent with a triangle choke reshaped how Khabib thought about fighting on the ground. “I realized that no matter how strong the wrestler is, lying on the back is where the wrestling normally ends, but MMA only begins there,” he recalled.
That realization pushed him toward a broad grappling education spanning multiple disciplines. “I competed in all kinds of sports. Everything that involves wrestling and fighting. I competed everywhere. I competed in freestyle, in judo, in grappling, in combat Sambo. I competed in sport Sambo, in hand-to-hand combat, in pankration…” he told Fridman.
Fridman also asked about the signature top pressure Khabib became known for throughout his career, and the former champion traced it back to an unexpected source: aikido’s philosophy of redirection. “I’ve learned to use my strength properly. There’s this sport called aikido. I don’t like it much, but I like their philosophy, where your strength might work against you,” he explained. “I think for a lot of listeners, this is gonna be a brand-new sport. But there is this sport called aikido, and the whole philosophy behind it is using your opponent’s force against them.
A freelance journalist with more than seven years of experience covering a wide range of topics, with a focus on delivering accurate, engaging, and well-researched reporting. He studied at the University of Birmingham, where he developed a strong foundation in journalism and communications. Martin is a 10th Planet BJJ brown belt and has been training for approximately 10 years and a keen follower of submission grappling.
