“Islam doesn’t know any submissions!” Alexander Volkanovski’s BJJ coach brutally trolls Team Khabib’s ‘Combat Sambo myth’ and mocks Islam Makhachev’s skills on the mat

Alexander Volkanovski's BJJ coach Craig Jones questioned the legitimacy of "Combat Sambo" and mocked Islam Makhachev's grappling abilities.

“Islam doesn’t know any submissions!” Alexander Volkanovski’s BJJ coach brutally trolls Team Khabib’s ‘Combat Sambo myth’ and mocks Islam Makhachev’s skills on the mat

Alexander Volkanovski's BJJ coach Craig Jones and Islam Makhachev (Image via IMAGO)

The main event of UFC 294 underwent a significant change when Charles Oliveira withdrew from the fight. In a surprising turn of events, Alexander Volkanovski stepped in on short notice to face Islam Makhachev in a title rematch, marking the second time they have clashed in the same year.

In the lead-up to the fight, Craig Jones, Volkanovski’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) coach, shared his thoughts in an interview with Submission Radio. During the interview, he took the opportunity to poke fun at Makhachev’s performance in their previous encounter. Jones disclosed that, in their last meeting, there were concerns about Makhachev’s submission skills, but it turned out that Makhachev didn’t pose as much of a threat in that regard as they had initially anticipated.

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He said, “The last time, we spent a ton of time on submission defence. Obviously, that’s a waste of time because as we learnt, Islam doesn’t have any submissions. He just holds onto the back for 20 minutes….We have heard about Sambo, we have never seen it work. It Islam gets a submission, that’s a jiu-jitsu submission. If gets a takedown, that’s a judo takedown. So for me, where’s Sambo? Sambo is a myth.” 

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Jones continued to express his strong opinions, asserting that the concept of Dagestani Sambo is essentially a non-existent one. In his view, Makhachev’s repertoire of techniques draws primarily from other combat sports disciplines, including BJJ, Judo, and wrestling, with little, if anything, that can be attributed predominantly to the realm of Sambo.

Furthermore, Jones took his critique beyond Makhachev, suggesting that the entire Dagestani fighting community’s reliance on Sambo was, in his words, a “myth.” His remarks indicated a deep skepticism about the unique contributions of Sambo within the context of their martial arts practices.

In the end, Jones mentioned that Volkanovski is confident and that 11 days is enough to beat Makhachev and put a full stop to the hype around Russian Sambo. These claims were pretty brutal and raised a lot of eyebrows among fight fans.

Related: “I’m coming off the couch,” Alexander Volkanovski warns Islam Makhachev about immense pressure on him ahead of short-notice UFC 294 fight

Alexander Volkanovski opens up about how the first fight with Islam Makhachev changed his training style 

In the lightweight title bout at UFC 284 in Perth, fans witnessed an intense showdown between Volkanovski and Makhachev. This inaugural encounter turned out to be a fiercely competitive contest, where both fighters showcased their skills and determination over the course of 25 minutes. Ultimately, it was Makhachev who emerged victorious, as he secured a unanimous decision from the judges. All three judges scored the bout in his favor, with final scores of 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46, solidifying his championship status.

Alexander Volkanovski and Islam Makhachev at UFC 284
Alexander Volkanovski and Islam Makhachev at UFC 284 (Image Courtesy: UFC)

In the lead-up to their highly anticipated rematch, Alexander Volkanovski has opened up about how his previous loss to Makhachev has significantly impacted his training and overall growth as a fighter. Volkanovski took to his YouTube channel, “The Great,” to share insights into the lessons he gleaned from that defeat and how he has used them to evolve as an athlete.

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Volkanovski revealed that his loss to Makhachev served as a crucial turning point in his career. It prompted him to make important changes in his training regimen, particularly in areas such as takedown defense, scrambling abilities, and his understanding of ground techniques. These valuable lessons from the Makhachev fight have continued to influence his approach to training, not only in his most recent camp but also in the ongoing preparations for his upcoming bouts. This experience has played a pivotal role in shaping him into a better fighter, which he carried forward into his fight with Yair Rodriguez and continues to apply in the gym.

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