A video of Dagestani grappling savants Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev partaking in a pleasant grappling session has been making the rounds on the web.
The footage options MMA legend Nurmagomedov within the backside place, with Makhachev within the high place as he grapples to get to a greater spot in Nurmagomedov’s guard.
Nevertheless, ‘The Eagle’ swiftly sweeps Makhachev and leads to the highest place, impressively securing full mount. It is unclear when the grappling session transpired. Regardless, Nurmagomedov’s fearsome agility and impeccable approach — even throughout pleasant sparring — have seemingly piqued the curiosity of the MMA neighborhood.
Watch Nurmagomedov sweep Makhachev within the video under (*video courtesy: @bloodyuppercut Instagram account):
Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev are childhood associates and longtime coaching companions. Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA), a former UFC light-weight champion, retired from MMA in October 2020. In the meantime, Makhachev (23-1 MMA) captured the UFC light-weight title in October 2022 and is the reigning champion heading into the New 12 months.
Earlier this yr, AKA (American Kickboxing Academy) head coach Javier Mendez alluded to the truth that Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev are sometimes in comparison with each other.
Talking to MMA Junkie, Mendez urged that Nurmagomedov and Makhachev’s respective types are considerably comparable. Nevertheless, he emphasised that Makhachev possesses significantly higher placing expertise than Nurmagomedov. Indicating that Makhachev is best than Nurmagomedov general, Mendez said:
“Islam was sensible sufficient to coach with different individuals, he has nice coaches at dwelling which are working with him. His placing is additional forward than Khabib’s ever was, solely due to the truth that Islam was working year-round on his placing.”
Watch Mendez’s evaluation at 3:05:
Khabib Nurmagomedov predicts how Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski may play out
UFC light-weight titleholder Islam Makhachev is scheduled to defend his belt in opposition to UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284 on February twelfth, 2023. In an interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, Khabib Nurmagomedov analyzed the matchup and defined how Makhachev would defeat ‘The Nice.’ Nurmagomedov mentioned:
“Volkanovski? Clinch, lot of knees; he is gonna eat a variety of knees. He [Makhachev] is gonna take his [Volkanovski’s] all vitality, take him down, and he is gonna choke him out… In fact, Volkanovski can field. He have wonderful expertise. What number of occasions he defended his title, all the pieces — However, brother, that is like, Thai clinch gonna kill him.”
Watch Nurmagomedov’s evaluation at 5:37 within the video under:
Khabib Nurmagomedov opined that though Alexander Volkanovski has a number of months to arrange for Islam Makhachev, it isn’t sufficient as Makhachev has been honing his expertise for about 20 years. Lauding Makhachev’s famed wrestling, Thai clinch, and left hand, ‘The Eagle’ picked him to dethrone Volkanovski because the UFC’s No. 1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter.