We will find multiple clips from Islam Makhachev‘s training, where he’s on the mat grinding with a heavyweight, such as his ex-teammate, Daniel Cormier. While it may look like an unfavorable contest between a 155’er and a fighter who weighs in excess of 205 lbs, Makhachev tends to hold his own. “I’m grappling with Islam once. I try to throw him off me, but he’s still there,” Cormier once revealed. The lightweight champ showcases the benefit of his training method in his fights when he overpowers almost every lightweight fighter he comes across. However, not everybody seems to be a fan of the Dagestani’s sparring with heavyweights.
American Kickboxing Academy’s head coach, Javier Mendez, claims to have first witnessed Islam Makhachev train with heavyweights back in Dagestan. It was kind of normal for fighters of different weight classes to train together there, but it wasn’t something he would have suggested other fighters in a lower weight class to do. “He said it was okay when I was in Dagestan. I’m watching him and he’s sparring with heavyweights and I didn’t like it,” Mendez stated on his YouTube podcast.
Well, there’s a multitude of reasons behind the AKA head honcho’s dislike of lower weight class fighters training with higher weight class fighters. First of all, it definitely raises the risk of getting injured due to the considerable difference in size and power. And for Islam Makhachev, even if he can hold his ground and even best his heavyweight teammates, to continue doing that, it can take years away from his fighting career due to too much wear and tear.
“He was handling it fine. He was doing better than the heavyweight himself, but it’s just the fact that the guy was like 230-240 lbs, and Islam’s 180-181. That’s about the average weight for him when he’s in fight camp,” Team Khabib’s head coach further stated. “So, I didn’t want Islam to get hit by something that big because when you get hit with something that’s a big heavyweight that’s got that kind of weight and ferocity, it’s killing brain cells.”
But then again, Makhachev has proven himself as one of the greatest fighters and strongest lightweights in history. And the toil in his training sessions and the knack to keep ‘challenging’ himself have paid dividends inside the Octagon. However, Mendez still doesn’t suggest fighters risk their well-being in the long run. “I don’t really like him doing that. But he did it enough times, and probably still to this day, he’s probably doing it because he’s a stud. He likes challenging himself, and he dominates and he’s super strong. But again, I don’t like it. I personally don’t like it,” the AKA head coach added.
MMA: UFC 311 Makhachev vs Moicano Jan 18, 2025 Inglewood, California, USA Islam Makhachev red gloves reacts after defeating Renato Moicano blue gloves in a lightweight title fight during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome. Inglewood Intuit Dome, California, USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xGaryxA.xVasquezx 20250118_jhp_sv5_0501
A coach will always look for his fighter’s well-being. So, Javier Mendez may not be wrong in trying to sway Islam Makhachev away from training with much bigger guys. In fact, this habit once led the lightweight to almost get injured when he trained with a surging UFC heavyweight fighter. Let’s take a look at that front.
Islam Makhachev got hurt while sparring with Sergei Pavlovich
Russian ace Sergei Pavlovich may be 1-2 in his last three fights. But the heavyweight fighter is one of the hardest-hitters in the UFC at the moment. He made his name in the promotion with six straight first-round knockouts. This means he’s not someone a lower weight class would like to mess with. But Islam Makhachev claims to have trained with his fellow Russian fighter, and while he praised Pavlovich’s “insane strength,” the 33-year-old did not end their sparring unscathed.
“I worked with Sergei when he was at the American Kickboxing Academy. We worked on the ground. He has insane strength. He pushed me back so hard… I even hurt my neck,” Islam Makhachev revealed in a 2023 interview. “He is gifted and physically strong. The weight difference was about 30 kilograms. When Pavlovich strikes, his opponents fall.”
Despite the complaints from his coach, Islam Makhachev has shown no signs of negative effects from his training methods in his fights inside the Octagon. But what do you think? Is the champion risking his well-being?
The post Team Khabib Admits Islam Makhachev Risks “Killing Brain Cells” Thanks to Shocking Habit appeared first on EssentiallySports.
