It’s no secret that Dagestani fighters usually have the strongest grappling prowess in the realm of mixed martial arts. And in the current scenario, it’s Islam Makhachev who has ensured that the Dagestani fear factor remains strong. But the fighting community has often wondered how the lightweight champion would fare in a grappling match at ADCC. That’s what we’ll uncover in today’s episode of MMA News Roundup.
First, we’ll see how Makhachev would fare against Gordon Ryan in a grappling battle. Then, we’ll secretly hear the message that Deiveson Figueiredo has for Merab Dvalishvili, prior to his bout at UFC 316. And finally, we’ll unravel an unusual fact about Robbie Lawler. So without any further ado, let’s dive right in!
Arman Tsarukyan’s Karate Combat opponent weighs in on Islam Makhachev vs Gordon Ryan
Arman Tsarukyan is currently set to fight Makkasharip Zaynukov in the Pit Submission Series under the banner of Karate Combat. However, it’s worth noting that Zaynukov is actually one of Islam Makhachev’s teammates. Which is why his recent conversations have often revolved around the UFC lightweight champion. And that’s exactly what happened during his interview with Ushatayka TV. The interviewer asked Zaynukov about his opinion on Makhachev competing at ADCC events. He replied, “The guys I saw there were kind of special. I don’t know. It would be interesting to let him test some black belts.”
But what about the matchup between Islam Makhachev and Gordon Ryan? Well, it was a moment that got Zaynukov talking about Ryan’s PED accusations. He said, “I think if Gordon isn’t on juice, he won’t have any chance against Islam. I think he’s one hundred percent juiced up. Look at his pics. He was in a completely different shape a month ago. He is just huge. I have no idea how it’s possible without any pharmacology, it’s beyond my understanding.”
Well, let’s leave the grappling world at that and step into the hype around UFC 316. Yes, it’s about the special message that Deiveson Figueiredo had for Merab Dvalishvili.
What did Deiveson Figueiredo ask of Merab Dvalishvili?
Despite hailing from the same weight class in the same MMA promotion, Dvalishvili and Figueiredo have developed a relationship built on admiration and respect. And this was reflected pretty clearly when Figueiredo showed support for ‘The Machine’ before his fight at UFC 311. And before that, the bantamweight champion expressed his desire to share the Octagon with ‘Figgy’. But now, the Brazilian star has one request for the Georgian champion.
Through Davis MMA, Figueiredo sent a special message for the bantamweight champion. He wanted the champ to KO Sean O’Malley at UFC 316. He said (via translator), “Hey Merab, good luck on your fight. Knock ‘Suga’ out. You’re the best.” Needless to say, Dvalishvili was pretty happy with the message. He responded to ‘Deus da Guerra’ with a simple mechanical arm emoji, followed by a Brazilian flag, to honor Figueiredo’s motherland.
But we’d see what happens with the bantamweight roster at UFC 316. For now, let’s take a look at one of the former MMA stars who’s still in the UFC’s anti-doping pool. Does that mean there’s a chance of Lawler’s return?
Is Robbie Lawler still getting tested by the UFC?
During his recent appearance on the Pound4Pound podcast, the 43-year-old former UFC fighter revealed, “All that was is like they tested me at a time where there was a whole bunch of people at the gym, so it went out there like, ‘Oh, it looks like Robbie got tested. I’m like, ‘Yeah, but I got tested months ago, too. Months before that.’ Yeah, I’m still there getting tested. But I’m retired. I am in the pool.”
It’s true that Lawler still trains at the Kill Cliff FC, Florida, and he trains regularly. But as far as his UFC return is concerned, we might never see him fight again. He officially retired following his 38-second KO win against Niko Price at UFC 290. Needless to say, it was the hardest decision that he had to make. But can he still do it? He said, “Yeah, I can still do it, but do I want to be selfish, really, because that’s what it is. It’s selfish.”
What are your thoughts on Zaynukov’s analysis of Makhachev vs. Ryan? Do you think Dvalishvili can defeat O’Malley once again? What are your thoughts on Lawler’s name still reflecting on UFC’s anti-doping pool? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.
The post MMA News Roundup – Islam Makhachev Predicted to Beat Gordon Ryan, Merab Dvalishvili Asked to KO Sean O’Malley, Robbie Lawler Still in Anti-Doping Pool appeared first on EssentiallySports.
