Olympic wrestling champion Razambek Zhamalov has been spotted working on takedown defense with UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. The post shows Zhamalov successfully defending against Makhachev's takedown attempts during a training session. This type of high-level training partner is common for elite UFC fighters preparing for championship defenses. No specific details about Makhachev's next fight or the purpose of the training camp were provided. The collaboration highlights the ongoing connection between Olympic-level wrestlers and top MMA competitors.
Recent footage has surfaced showing UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev drilling takedown defense alongside Olympic wrestling champion Razambek Zhamalov, offering a glimpse into the high-caliber training environment the Dagestani star continues to operate in.
Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1-0 professional record and currently sits atop both the lightweight division and the pound-for-pound rankings. The Russian southpaw, who stands five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach and trains out of Eagles MMA, has built his championship reign on a suffocating grappling game that averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, complemented by a striking accuracy rate of 58 percent. He also generates 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, underscoring the multi-layered threat he presents on the mat.
The footage shows Zhamalov, a decorated Olympic wrestling champion, successfully resisting Makhachev's takedown attempts during the session. Rather than serving as a sparring partner absorbing punishment, Zhamalov appears to be pushing the champion in a specific area of the game — a detail that speaks to how seriously Makhachev's camp approaches preparation even outside a formal fight camp announcement.
No details about an upcoming opponent or the specific purpose of the camp have been disclosed.
Why it matters
- Makhachev bringing in an Olympic-level wrestler to test his own takedown defense signals a continued commitment to sharpening every dimension of his game, not just his already elite offense.
- The collaboration reinforces the long-standing pipeline between high-level freestyle wrestling and the upper echelon of MMA competition.
- With Makhachev holding both the divisional title and the top pound-for-pound spot, any training footage draws immediate attention to who his next challenger might be forced to contend with.
