Olympic champion wrestler Ahmed Tazhudinov and fellow Olympic medalist Razambek Zhamalov are currently attending a training camp in Kislovodsk alongside UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. The post indicates that the high-level wrestlers are working together with Makhachev, likely as part of his preparation for an upcoming fight or as ongoing training to maintain his championship form. Kislovodsk is a known training destination in Russia's Caucasus region, frequently used by elite combat sports athletes for training camps. The collaboration between Olympic-level wrestlers and the UFC champion highlights the crossover training common in MMA at the highest levels.
Islam Makhachev is sharpening his championship credentials alongside world-class wrestling talent, with Olympic gold medalist Ahmed Tazhudinov and Olympic medalist Razambek Zhamalov joining the UFC champion at a training camp in Kislovodsk, Russia.
Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1-0 professional record and currently reigns as champion in the welterweight division, where he also holds the number-one pound-for-pound ranking. The Dagestan native trains out of Eagles MMA and brings an already formidable grappling arsenal to the mat, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.1 submission attempts in the same window. His striking is equally refined, with a 58 percent accuracy rate and 2.63 significant strikes landed per minute. Incorporating Olympic-caliber wrestlers into his camp in Kislovodsk — a well-established high-altitude training hub in Russia's Caucasus region frequently visited by elite combat sports athletes — signals the meticulous preparation that has defined his championship run.
Tazhudinov, a reigning Olympic champion in freestyle wrestling, and Zhamalov, also an Olympic medalist, represent the kind of elite grappling talent rarely available to even the most decorated MMA fighters. Their involvement in Makhachev's camp underscores the cross-disciplinary collaboration that has become a hallmark of the sport's highest level.
Why it matters
- Makhachev is already regarded as one of the premier grapplers in MMA, and working with Olympic freestyle wrestlers raises the ceiling on his takedown and wrestling-based skills.
- Kislovodsk's altitude and established infrastructure make it a preferred destination for serious fight camps, suggesting this is structured preparation rather than casual sparring.
- The presence of two Olympic-level wrestlers points toward a focused, competition-specific camp rather than routine off-season training.
