Islam Makhachev hilariously ‘CANCELS’ fighters with Jiu-jitsu black belts
Islam Makhachev names the fighters who deserved Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt in UFC competition and who didn't.
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Islam Makhachev hilariously gags on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt holders in UFC (Source: IMAGO/X)
If there was any takeaway from UFC 302’s title headliner, it is that Islam Makhachev is equally dangerous on the ground and feet. He dispatched Dustin Poirier with a slick takedown and lightning-fast submission attempt. Makhachev has often touted dominance over those who hold black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He does so once again, hilariously snubbing them of any consideration.
Recently, Tom Aspinall gave Makhachev props over mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov in his prime. The Dagestani was in conversation with Middle Eastern MMA coverage outlet Hosheh MMA recently. He returned the favor by complementing Aspinall’s BJJ prowess. He also considered the likes of Aljamain Sterling to be worthy of a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. However, some were not lucky.
Yeah [Tom Aspinall]…Yeah keep…[Aljamain Sterling] Yeah. [Dustin Poirier] Brown [Paddy Pimblett] Him…Brown, maybe. [Tony Ferguson] Ferguson. No, he don't have black, he has couple good things on the ground, but he is not real black belt….Some of them not deserve, [for] some, coach just gift them…Isma Makhachev via Hosheh MMA (@HoshehMma);?: @Home_of_Fight on X
Makhachev rocked the grappling community back when he submitted Charles Oliveira to win the lightweight title. Speaking with Daniel Cormier, Makhachev questioned the validity of a BJJ black belt for submission specialists. Makhachev scoffed it off while Cormier defended fighters with a black belt. He does so yet again, but more lightheartedly. Check out the hilarious footage, down below.
Even ADCC champions such as Rodolfo Vieira have been submitted by lower-ranked grapplers in UFC competition. So Makhachev’s claims weren’t unfounded; even specialists like Craig Jones agreed on it. Khabib himself was a BJJ white belt despite his visible dominance on the ground. Makhachev also once clearly outlined the problems of BJJ practitioners.
Islam Makhachev thinks all Jiu-Jitsu guys have the ‘same problem’
Islam Makhachev does not have a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. However, that hasn’t stopped him from rising to the challenge and coming out as a top pound-for-pound fighter. The 32-year-old does have a black belt in Judo. Makhachev is also a 2016 World Combat Sambo Championship gold medalist and a two-time Russian national Combat Sambo champion.
The Team Eagles MMA southpaw judoka and combat sambo expert has gone up against prime Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners many times before. He faced Alexander Volkanovski twice for the latter’s bid for dual-division glory at featherweight and lightweight.
During his pre-fight Fighter Check-in with Cormier for his YT channel, Mkhachev talked about the coming challenge. While ‘DC’ warned his friend against Volk’s takedowns, Makhachev disregarded his BJJ background. Subsequently, he also talked about the common problems faced by many BJJ fighters.
All Jiu-Jitsu guys have same problem. They cannot stay in the top. They all go down, ...This is big, big problem for them. It would be very hard [to find] if Jiu-jitsu [black belt fighter] have good wrestling. But I don’t know people like this.Islam Makhachev during UFC 284 Pre-fight Fighter Check Ins (?: (@DC_MMA) )
His mentor, Khabib, has a superior top mount, in part due to his Sambo. Many of his rivals even consider Islam Makhachev to have a fluid transition from mounts to submission holds or downed-pounding, and vice versa. Makhachev has always been critical of many UFC fighters with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu backgrounds for their lack of wrestling dominance. The Dagestan native and his trajectory so far have been paramount in proving his point.
In case you missed it:
- “Strangle a F**** Heavyweight,” Joe Rogan asserts that skilled BJJ fighters like Charles Oliveira can dominate any heavyweight
- Islam Makhachev disappoints fans with concerning update on return to octagon in 2024
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