Olympic wrestlers Ahmed Tazhudinov and Razambek Zhamalov are currently training at a camp in Kislovodsk alongside UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. The training session brings together elite combat sports athletes in a collaborative environment. Details about the specific focus or duration of the camp remain limited in the post. The presence of Olympic-level wrestlers training with Makhachev highlights the cross-pollination between wrestling and MMA at the highest levels. This type of training partnership is common among Dagestani and Russian combat sports athletes.
Islam Makhachev is sharing the mat in Kislovodsk with two decorated Olympic wrestlers, Ahmed Tazhudinov and Razambek Zhamalov, as part of a collaborative training camp that underscores the deep ties between elite wrestling and mixed martial arts.
Makhachev, 34, holds the UFC welterweight championship and carries a professional record of 28-1. The Russian southpaw, who stands five feet ten inches tall with a 70-inch reach and trains out of Eagles MMA, is widely regarded as one of the most complete grapplers in the sport. His numbers reflect that dominance: he averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands submissions at a rate of 1.1 attempts per 15 minutes, all while maintaining a striking accuracy of 58 percent. That combination of elite wrestling and precise striking has defined his run atop the division.
Tazhudinov and Zhamalov bring Olympic-level credentials to the camp, adding a layer of high-end wrestling competition to Makhachev's preparation. Specific details about the camp's duration, objectives, or any upcoming fight on Makhachev's schedule have not been disclosed.
Why it matters
- Cross-training between Olympic wrestlers and elite MMA fighters is a proven method for sharpening takedown offense and defense at the highest level.
- Kislovodsk has long served as a gathering point for Dagestani and Russian combat sports athletes, making this type of collaboration a natural extension of existing networks.
- For Makhachev, working against pure wrestlers of this caliber keeps his grappling credentials sharp as he defends his position as the division's champion and the top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter on the roster.
