Despite his standing as one of the most dominant wrestlers and grapplers ever seen in the UFC, Islam Makhachev has reportedly been advised to specifically enhance that aspect of his skillset.
This surprising counsel comes after the recent, unexpected announcement that Islam Makhachev has vacated his lightweight title and is set to pursue a welterweight championship bout against Jack Della Maddalena.
The potential main event clash is currently rumored to take place at the UFC`s upcoming event in Abu Dhabi, likely in October.
Daniel Cormier Advocates for Sharpened Wrestling
The suggestion to work on his wrestling was made by Makhachev`s longtime friend and training partner, former UFC champion Daniel Cormier. The advice is particularly notable given Della Maddalena`s recent performance.
In his title-winning effort against Belal Muhammad, Jack Della Maddalena showcased an incredibly strong takedown defense, successfully stuffing most of Muhammad`s attempts. This performance, combined with Makhachev`s recent fight where he “struggled a little to take down Dustin Poirier,” according to Cormier on the `Good Guy/Bad Guy` podcast, prompted the recommendation.
Cormier emphasized that for the fight against Della Maddalena, Makhachev needs to “really lock in on getting that wrestling ready,” also acknowledging Della Maddalena`s skilled boxing, especially in close quarters.
Makhachev`s Demonstrated Striking Prowess
While Della Maddalena is often perceived as having the striking advantage in this matchup, Makhachev has demonstrated elite-level striking capabilities throughout his UFC tenure.
His striking skills were undeniably highlighted by his brutal first-round head kick knockout victory over Alexander Volkanovski in their rematch at UFC 294.
The stylistic clash is intriguing: Della Maddalena primarily favors boxing, while Makhachev effectively utilizes kicks as part of his offense, alongside a dominant Thai clinch.
