UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is currently training at a camp in Kislovodsk alongside Olympic wrestling champions Akhmed Tazhudinov and Razambek Zhamalov. The training session brings together elite grappling talent from combat sports and Olympic wrestling. Tazhudinov won Olympic gold in freestyle wrestling, while Zhamalov is also an accomplished Olympic-level wrestler. The post includes video content showing the training session. This camp appears to be part of Makhachev's ongoing preparation, though no specific upcoming fight has been announced in this post.
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has been spotted training at a high-altitude camp in Kislovodsk, Russia, alongside two decorated Olympic wrestling champions, Akhmed Tazhudinov and Razambek Zhamalov.
Video footage from the session shows Makhachev working alongside Tazhudinov, who captured Olympic gold in freestyle wrestling, and Zhamalov, another accomplished wrestler at the Olympic level. The gathering brings together some of the most elite grappling talent across both combat sports and traditional wrestling disciplines.
Makhachev, 34, holds a professional record of 28-1-0 and reigns as the undisputed champion of the lightweight division, currently ranked as the number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC. The Russian southpaw, who stands five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach, represents Eagles MMA and has built his championship run on a suffocating grappling game. He averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, complementing a striking output of 2.63 significant strikes per minute at an accuracy rate of 58 percent.
No specific upcoming fight has been announced in connection with this camp. The session appears to reflect Makhachev's continued commitment to sharpening his already formidable wrestling base between bouts.
Why it matters
- Makhachev training with Olympic-level freestyle wrestlers suggests an ongoing emphasis on his takedown and mat control game, already among the best in the division.
- Kislovodsk, a high-altitude training destination, is a well-established environment for elite Russian combat sports preparation.
- The collaboration between UFC and Olympic wrestling circles highlights the crossover appeal and mutual benefit between the two sports at the highest levels.
