Coach Compares Fighters to Habib Nurmagomedov, Prefers His Qualities.

2 days ago7 min read

In a striking declaration that cuts to the very heart of combat sports philosophy, coach Gor Azizyan has drawn a definitive line in the sand, publicly stating he finds the qualities embodied by the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov to be vastly superior and more desirable than those of iconic Russian fighters Fedor Emelianenko and Alexander Shlemenko. 'All the qualities that Khabib has, I do not see in Fedor Emelianenko or Alexander Shlemenko,' Azizyan asserted, leaving little room for ambiguity in a sporting culture often dominated by such figures.'I will be calmer if my fighters are similar to Khabib, not to Shlemenko or Emelianenko. That is my opinion.Maybe I am wrong. Time will tell who is right and who is not.' This isn't merely a preference for a fighting style; it's a profound endorsement of a specific code of conduct, both inside and outside the cage. Azizyan zeroed in on Nurmagomedov's unparalleled clarity of character, noting, 'There is no ambiguity in Khabib's words, it is easier for me to understand him than others.' He then provided a crucial metric for his assessment, revealing a deeply held personal principle: 'I judge a person's character by how they treat their coach. ' This statement transcends typical fight analysis, venturing into the realm of mentorship and moral upbringing.For Azizyan, the ultimate goal extends beyond crafting a champion; it is about forging individuals who contribute positively to the wider world. 'I must educate fighters in such a way that my athletes are useful to society,' he concluded, framing his coaching mission with a societal responsibility rarely articulated with such conviction.This perspective invites a broader comparison of legacies. Fedor Emelianenko, 'The Last Emperor,' is revered for his stoic, almost serene dominance during the PRIDE FC era, a quiet force of nature whose power was as terrifying as it was effortless.Alexander Shlemenko, known for his explosive, spinning-attack-heavy style, represents a different kind of ferocity—unpredictable and artistically violent. Khabib Nurmagomedov's legacy, however, is built on a different foundation entirely: an undefeated record, yes, but more importantly, an unshakeable discipline, a deep-rooted faith that guided his every action, and a filial piety that saw him retire at his mother's request at the absolute peak of his powers.Azizyan’s comments suggest a belief that while Emelianenko's stoicism and Shlemenko's explosiveness are effective, they lack the transferable life principles and the unwavering moral compass that defined 'The Eagle. ' This is a coach betting on character over pure, uncontextualized skill, on long-term integrity over short-term spectacle. It raises a fundamental question for the future of fight camps: are they simply factories for producing winning athletes, or are they academies for building respectable men and women? Azizyan has firmly chosen the latter, using Khabib Nurmagomedov as his gold standard—a paragon of victory with honor, a fighter whose greatest triumphs were perhaps not the submissions he secured, but the integrity he never compromised.

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#coach interview

#Habib Nurmagomedov

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#Alexander Shlemenko

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#training philosophy

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