Usman Nurmagomedov makes his highly-anticipatedBellator MMA debut Friday on Showtime.- The lightweight trained in Las Vegas alongside former UFC champ Khabib to get ready for his bout.
- Bellator boss
Scott Coker told Insider he's excited about the AKA fighter's potential inMMA .
"An army" of Nurmagomedovs heads to Bellator 255 as Khabib's cousin Usman makes his debut for the company on Friday.
Usman Nurmagomedov is an unbeaten fighter with seven knockouts, three submissions, and one decision from a flawless run so far in regional MMA promotions in Russia and the Middle East.
The lightweight Dagestani fights for the 12th time during Bellator MMA's first event in four months as the Hollywood-based combat
With Khabib Nurmagomedov's retirement from professional sport, there is intense interest in the next wave of talent from his team-mates, training partners, and proteges.
Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov are returning impressive performances in the UFC, and Usman Nurmagomedov is expected to do the same when he makes his US debut with Bellator at the Mohegan Sun Casino.
The rise of Makhachev, Umar, and Usman is because of Khabib, Bellator boss Scott Coker told Insider last week.
Coker said Khabib helped nurture their talents in Dagestan, and especially at Javier Mendez's renowned American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose.
"He was a great fighter coming into training at AKA, competing in the UFC, and becoming one of the greatest fighters and the greatest lightweight of all time," Coker told us.
"And then he's got all his guys and they all train, they all fight, and he's got a great team.
"They were in Vegas training, taking it seriously, and getting ready. Khabib's there, Usman, another brother, and it's like an army coming to the Mohegan Sun Casino, April 2, live on Showtime.
"It's a big deal for [Usman]. Can you imagine training with Khabib? And Usman has had great fights all around the world, but now you've got to deliver. There must be a certain amount of pressure that comes with that."
Usman's potential in mixed martial arts is huge, Coker said
Aside from Khabib, AKA has helped Daniel Cormier, Cain Velasquez, and Luke Rockhold - all UFC champions - flourish.
But there are many others developing their trade there, and AKA's founder Mendez, an esteemed MMA coach, recommended Usman to Coker.
"Javier Mendez who trains Khabib at AKA told me, 'Hey, you should look out for this kid [Usman].'
"So we signed him and what I'm excited about is not just the fighter he is right now but the fighter he is under the tutelage of Javier, AKA, that gym, and with all the great fighters it has put out. It's like a fight factory, really.
"But you put this guy into Javier's hands and he's just going to mould him properly."
On what stands Usman apart, Coker said: "He's got it all … the stand-up, the ground-game, the wrestling.
"He's not a fighter you'll be able to take advantage of because he's weak in one area or another. He's a fighter who's got a well-rounded game, with excellent hands and complete striking ability."
Usman is campaigning in the lightweight division - home to fighters like Benson Henderson, the Pitbull brothers Patricio and Patricky Freire, and Brent Primus.
As Usman makes his debut appearance in Bellator on Friday it is hard to gauge how far he can go in the sport, but Coker is excited by his prospect's potential.
"Where can we take this kid from here?" he said. "Where he is today … in a couple of years he'll be at a whole different level. That's what's exciting."