Olympic wrestlers Ahmed Tazhudinov and Razambek Zhamalov are currently attending a training camp in Kislovodsk together with UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. The post indicates they are training together at the same facility. The announcement was made on social media with links to duplicate content on other platforms. No details were provided about the duration of the camp or specific training activities.
Islam Makhachev is sharing mat time with two elite Olympic wrestlers as part of a training camp in Kislovodsk, Russia, according to a social media announcement posted on May 1, 2026.
Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion and the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the sport, has joined forces with Ahmed Tazhudinov and Razambek Zhamalov at the same facility. The 34-year-old Russian, who trains out of Eagles MMA, carries a 28-1 record and brings an already formidable grappling game to the room. His numbers reflect a complete fighter: he lands 3.2 takedowns per fifteen minutes, attempts 1.1 submissions over the same span, and posts a striking accuracy of 58 percent from a southpaw stance. Standing five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach, Makhachev has long leaned on wrestling and submission chains to control opponents, and the addition of two decorated Olympic-level wrestlers to his camp suggests a continued investment in that area.
Tazhudinov and Zhamalov are accomplished wrestlers whose credentials at the highest levels of international competition make them natural training partners for a champion looking to sharpen his takedown offense and defensive wrestling. No details about the camp's duration or its specific training focus were provided in the announcement.
Why it matters
- Makhachev reinforcing an already elite wrestling base with Olympic-caliber partners could elevate one of the division's most complete skill sets even further
- Training camps of this nature at Kislovodsk, a well-known high-altitude preparation hub, signal a structured buildup rather than casual drilling
- The collaboration keeps Makhachev connected to Russia's deep combat sports network ahead of whatever welterweight title defense lies next
