Javier Mendez: Islam Makhachev is ‘unbeatable’ at welterweight, says Daniel Cormier should have retired like Tom Aspinall

slam Makhachev’s coach Javier Mendez previews the welterweight’s showdown with Jack Della Maddalena, reveals Daniel Cormier should have retired like Tom Aspinall and says he would be open to training Jake Paul for his MMA debut.

Speak with CanadaCasinoMendez said:

• Daniel Cormier should have retired after Stipe, like Tom Aspinall did
• Both Cyril Gane and Aspinall should be given the chance to redeem themselves
• Khabib and I would like to train Jake Paul and make him a success in MMA
• Tom Aspinall is not the main character of the UFC; he should consider taking up boxing
• Tom Aspinall should build his boxing career to 12-0 and then face Anthony JoshuA
• Islam Makhachev is unbeatable at welterweight
• JDM is a formidable opponent, but Makhachev is bigger, stronger and more confident
• JDM is a much better striker than Ilia Topuria – a potential p4p fight in the White House is not a distraction for Makachev

Team Khabib’s Javier Mendez: Daniel Cormier should have retired as ‘warrior’ Tom Aspinall, Jack Della Maddalena ‘better striker’ than Ilia Topuria, Islam Makhachev looks ‘unbeatable’

Daniel Cormier should have retired after Stipe, like Tom Aspinall did

What Ciryl Gane did was by accident. People miss the whole thing. Why would he try to fight half blind to please the fans? What will that do for his family? What will it do for his legacy? No, he absolutely 100% made the right decision by telling the truth: “I can’t see it.” And if he can’t see, you as a referee or doctor can’t keep letting the fight go. The man told him he couldn’t see. From what I hear, and I’m not saying I know, from what I hear, he’s still having trouble seeing now.

When Daniel Cormier got poked in his third fight with Stipe Miocic, Daniel couldn’t see it. When the doctor came to Daniel and asked, “Can you see it?” He said “yes”. He couldn’t, and after that he couldn’t even see for a few days because the poke was so bad. So I know firsthand. That’s DC, that’s the dog in him. When he’s in a fight, he’s that dog, he’s that guy. He doesn’t give up for nothing. But it’s not the smartest thing. But look what happened to Daniel. Yes, he fought on, but as far as he could see he was half the fighter. So it wasn’t right that he did that. I would have preferred to see Daniel do the same as Tom, to create a level playing field. Who wants to fight so injured? How is that fair? How is that fair to these people who get stabbed in the eye accidentally or intentionally, and then they’re not the same, and now they’re cowards because they backed out? I say nonsense. Tom Aspinall is a true warrior. I don’t see anything being reduced. It was an eye stab. It’s only one round. It wasn’t over yet. By no means am I going to say he would be defeated. He was working. Tom could have ended the fight at any time. The next lap Tom could have gone all out.

Both Cyril Gane and Aspinall should be given the chance to redeem themselves

It is extreme to say that Gane should be disqualified or banished. He should be able to fight next week if he is physically able to do so. It’s bad enough that he had an opportunity that could have gone his way that was taken away from him. That’s punishment enough. Give him another chance, let him realize his dream: trying to win that title. And let Tom get redemption for people who think he’s a quitter, because he’s not.

Khabib and I would like to train Jake Paul and make him a success in MMA

If the team voted him in, he would be allowed to train with them. However, that hasn’t happened yet, so I can’t say a definitive yes or no yet. He is a serious boxer and athlete who should be taken seriously. If he decides to pursue it seriously, I believe he can succeed. From the beginning I told everyone that he is not like his brother Logan Paul, who focuses on WWE style. Jake Paul takes boxing very seriously and makes the most of it.

Jake Paul is good for MMA because he creates more eyeballs. He would take it seriously; he wouldn’t do any of the “nonsense” that some other fighters do. He would be serious and dedicated. However, I seriously doubt he wants to do MMA because the money is more realistically bigger for him in boxing. So I would think he wouldn’t. To get attention he would have to find a big person to fight in MMA, maybe Dillon Danis would be a good market for him. On the ground, Dillon will obviously tear him apart. But during stand-up, Jake tears him apart.

Tom Aspinall is not the main character of the UFC; he should consider taking up boxing

I don’t think Tom isn’t their guy. I just believe that the stars can make significantly more money through boxing than UFC stars. So when they talk about boxing now, it’s just about the money. There’s just more money to be made in boxing, and if you’re a big name, you can make a lot of money in boxing. Tom has a big name and he is said to make a lot of money from boxing. I think that’s what his father means; he knows how good his son is at boxing. I’d ask, “What do you want, Tom?” If he says, ‘I want to box,’ then I would advise him to continue with it. If he says, “I just want to be in the UFC,” then I would tell him to do that. It’s about what the hunter wants. If you ask me what I would make more money from, I would obviously say boxing.

Tom Aspinall should build his boxing career to 12-0 and then face Anthony Joshua

No. I love watching boxers move up the ranks and build their careers. If he built a career to 12-0, that was a fight [with Anthony Joshua] would be interesting, but without knowing what he could do in boxing, as a fan I wouldn’t be that interested.

Islam Makhachev is unbeatable at welterweight

Based on what I see in the gym, I believe Islam is unbeatable right now. I don’t see a hole in his game yesterday [during sparring] I was so amazed by him that, yes, he is unbeatable, he has covered all the angles.

It is definitely stronger and more compact. He hits harder. Yesterday he went through three sparring partners. I was shocked. You couldn’t do more than two rounds, he said, “I’m done, I’m done!” so we had to use someone else at the very end. Islam is a beast right now and must be a beast to defeat this very, very strong opponent.

Islam needs very little guidance. He is the total package in terms of the mental aspect, game planning and taking care of his body, he is perfect. He listens to all his coaches and is the prototype for the best fighter. He almost looks like Cain Velasquez, with one exception: Islam knows when his body is failing, and he will tell you. Cain wouldn’t say anything until he breaks.

JDM is a formidable opponent, but Makhachev is bigger, stronger and more confident

This guy is very formidable in every way and he hasn’t lost his way in a while either, it’s a great streak and he’s only getting stronger. And then he has the mental advantage, knowing he feels like the bigger man. But here’s a question I want answered myself: let’s wait until he gives his opinion, let’s see who is the greatest then. Maybe we’re not far from him. But what I do know is that Islam is not the Islam of the past; he is now bigger, stronger, more confident and he hits much harder now.

JDM is a much better striker than Ilia Topuria – a potential p4p fight in the White House is not a distraction for Makachev

I never called Topuria the best striker, only the best boxer, and I stand by that. The man has incredible boxing for MMA. I’m not saying he could win a world boxing title now; that’s a completely different animal. But his boxing is really good.

If you look at someone like Jack Maddalena, who we fight, he is not a boxer like Topuria, but he is a better striker because he can do everything, which means he can kick; he can kneel, he can do everything very well. He’s not as polished as a boxer. The technique, the technical aspect, he has very tight boxing skills.

The speech at the White House is not distracting at all. Islam is focused on the task at hand. If he wants to be on the White House map, which I would like to do, he’s going to have to get past Jack. If he doesn’t get past Jack, I seriously doubt there will be a White House map [for us]. He will have to beat Jack.

Roberto Villa is the CEO, founder, executive writer and senior editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for martial arts and is also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He is also a former MMA fighter and kickboxer. He is also the chief photographer of the 4CornersMafia Car Club.