Coach Javier Mendez recently revealed that Islam
Makhachev guided Usman
Nurmagomedov to a knockout victory over Archie
Colgan.

Nurmagomedov (22-0) put his
Professional Fighters League lightweight title on the line
against a previously undefeated Colgan in Long Island, New York.
Nurmagomedov dropped Colgan with a perfect question-mark kick to
the head in the opening round. While Colgan got back up on wobbly
legs, the Russian finished him with a precisely timed uppercut to
close out
PFL New York.

The striking technique Islam Makhachev learned before his
Alexander Volkanovski KO reached Usman

Nurmagomedov has a star-studded team behind him, comprising his
cousin and Hall of Famer Khabib, brother and top-ranked UFC
bantamweight Umar, coach Mendez and UFC welterweight champion
Makhachev.

An elite
middleweight clash headlines PFL Charlotte: Tune on Friday, Aug. 7
at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Mendez has now revealed that Makhachev had advised Nurmagomedov to
fake teep kicks to the body before going to the head. Mendez also
claimed that Makhachev had originally learned the technique from
his striking coach, Magomed Bagandov, ahead of his brutal head-kick
knockout win over Alexander
Volkanovski in their 2023 rematch.

“It was actually Islam's advice that got the job done,†Mendez said
in an interview with Submission Radio. “He told [Usman], ‘Teep up
the middle, feint and feint, and then go with the head kick.' And
then that's exactly what happened… This was the same technique
shown to Islam by his coach Magomed and Islam showed it to
Usman.â€

Usman is now the hottest free agent in MMA after closing out his
last PFL contract in style, with rumors of a UFC move now
circulating. Meanwhile, his brother Umar is gearing up for a Fight
Night main event against Yadong Song
on Aug. 29 in Shanghai, China, and Makhachev is scheduled to defend
his welterweight title against Ian Garry
(17-1) at UFC
330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.

Khamzat
Chimaev's coach Murad Bichuev claims a change of opponent led
to weight cut issues in his last fight in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Chimaev (15-1) lost his middleweight title to Sean
Strickland (31-7) in a shocking upset this past May. “Borz†was
visibly drained in the second round, forced to abandon his
wrestling and fought the rest of the fight on the feet, where he
was outworked by Strickland. Chimaev's coach has now detailed why
he struggled in the bout.

Murad Bichuev says Chimaev was preparing for Jiri Prochazka
before returning to middleweight

Bichuev claims Chimaev was originally bulking up to move up to
light heavyweight to fight Jiri
Prochazka. However, the UFC allegedly then changed plans and
told Chimaev to defend his middleweight title against Strickland
instead. According to Bichuev, they had a short window to prepare
for the fight against Strickland, which led to weight-cut issues
for a bulked-up Chimaev.

“The weight cut was an issue because he was initially set to face
Procházka at 205,†Bichuev told Red Corner MMA. “So, we were mostly
focusing on his physique. He started gaining muscle. He was gaining
weight more than before. And then they said, ‘No, we're leaving
this option aside; you have to fight Strickland at 185.' That's why
we didn't have much time and we faced more problems than we
expected.â€

Chimaev was teasing a move up to light heavyweight after claiming
the middleweight belt. Following his loss against Strickland,
Dana
White said that the Chechen-born fighter was determined to move
up. However, Chimaev has since been rallying for a rematch against
Strickland, repeatedly calling out the American on social
media.

“Khamzat was gaining weight for Prochazka,
but then they said it will be Strickland”

Khamzat
Chimaev's coach, Murad Bichuev, reveals the team was originally
focused on preparing for a light heavyweight fight against Jiří
Procházka before being switched to Sean
Strickland at… pic.twitter.com/bHomveb86K

— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA)
August 2, 2026

Arman
Tsarukyan continues to build up his resume of side quests
outside the Octagon.

Tsarukyan faced Indian fitness influencer Ankit Bainpuriya in a
submission-only grappling match at Hype FC in Armenia.

Arman Tsarukyan submits Ankit Bainpuriya by armbar at Hype FC
grappling event

It was a clear mismatch as the
Ultimate Fighting Championship athlete repeatedly slammed
Bainpuriya before making him tap to an armbar hardly two and a half
minutes into the bout.

While Bainpuriya has a massive following on social media, he has no
prior combat sports experience. However, he can occasionally be
seen training wrestling and also did a brief camp in Dagestan
before facing Tsarukyan.

Meanwhile, the top-ranked lightweight hasn't fought in the UFC
since a submission win over Dan Hooker
last November. While “Ahalkalakets†is widely considered the most
deserving UFC lightweight title contender, he is yet to get a title
shot. He recently hinted that there will be news of his next UFC
fight soon.

Tsarukyan has been active in wrestling competitions lately, mostly
at Real American Freestyle, where he recently lost to Colby
Covington in a huge upset. He's 7-1 under the RAF banner,
having previously beaten the likes of Urijah Faber
and Tony
Ferguson.

Arman
Tsarukyan just destroyed Indian fitness influencer Ankit
Baiyanpuria pic.twitter.com/jzwdUrxzLU

— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch)
August 1, 2026