Magomed Dzharbaev claimed the ADCC championship title in the under-77 kg division. Dzharbaev has been training alongside Islam Makhachev, whom he has described as an "uncrowned black belt in BJJ," a nod to Makhachev's high-level grappling ability.
Magomed Dzharbaev captured gold in the under-77 kg division at the 2026 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, adding another elite grappling title to his resume on September 13.
Dzharbaev's victory drew attention in part because of who he trains with daily. The champion has spoken about sharing the mats with Islam Makhachev, describing the UFC welterweight titleholder as an "uncrowned black belt in BJJ" — a pointed tribute to the level of grappling Dzharbaev encounters in the gym each session.
Makhachev, 34, is the reigning UFC welterweight champion out of Russia and trains with Eagles MMA. He carries a professional record of 29-1 and ranks among the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport. The southpaw is known for a suffocating grappling game that complements his striking, averaging 3.22 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing 58 percent of his significant strikes at a rate of 2.27 per minute. He attempts nearly one submission per 15 minutes of fight time — numbers that speak to the constant threat he poses on the ground.
Why it matters
- Dzharbaev's ADCC gold underscores the elite grappling environment inside the Eagles MMA camp
- Makhachev's reputation as a near-black-belt-level practitioner is reinforced by a training partner winning one of submission wrestling's most prestigious titles
- The result adds further credibility to the Dagestani school of grappling as a dominant force across both MMA and pure submission competition
