Islam Makhachev put on a stellar performance at the UFC 280, beating Charles Oliveira with an Arm Triangle for the lightweight title.
Prior to the fight, he spoke to Daniel Cormier. Cormier warned him about Oliveira’s ability to finish opponents:
He’s finished 10 out of 11 guys. Only guy he didn’t finish was Tony Ferguson, because Tony Ferguson didn’t tap to the Armbar – which most people would’ve tapped to.
However, Islam responded that there’s another, clear reason why Oliveira didn’t tap Ferguson. And that it’s got to do with his BJJ skills:
But this guy have grappling skill, that’s why. All these [other guys who Oliveira has faced] Chandler, Gaethje, Poirier… All these guy have nothing [no grappling skills]. On the ground, I don’t think [so]…
Cormier then emphasized that Poirier is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. But Makhachev was unfazed:
Please, brother… So what he did when he [Ferguson] catch his arm, he go to do, what is this brother? [Granby roll]…
Black belt. Who give him that? We have to check that brother.And we have to cancel many black belts [because] they make Jiu-Jitsu look bad. Because a lot of guys have black belt but I don’t know [if they have the skills].
How good is Islam as a grappler?
Submissions are a weapon Islam Makhachev has used in his previous matches. Islam Makhachev has 11 submission wins in his career. Islam Makhachev has mainly used submissions such as kimura, arm triangle, and the rear naked choke. He likes to work from the top position and avoids being on the bottom, as seen in his match against Arman Tsarukyan.
Makhachev has a rich grappling sports tradition. Makhachev was the combat sambo world champion at 74 kilograms in 2016 and has wrestled all of his life. Out of his 22 pro MMA wins, he has 12 submissions. Interestingly, in the past he has said:
‘What I do is not Jiu-Jitsu nor Grappling, it’s MMA ground game and I have the best in the division.’
For famed MMA trainer, Islam’s grappling skills reminds him of Roger Gracie. In this video he explains what makes him so dominant:
“He has this insane squeeze. What makes him different, much like Roger Gracie are the invisible details which make his technique incredible.”
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The post Firas Zahabi Explains Why Islam Makhachev’s Has an Unfair Grappling Advantage appeared first on Bjj Eastern Europe.