The Republic of Dagestan is a dominant force in the sport of wrestling. Abdulrashid Sadulayev from the tiny republic won gold at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. Naturally, belonging to that elite wrestling pedigree, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is a class apart when it comes to wrestling in the octagon.
This is why at the media scrum for UFC 284, Makhachev questioned the nation of Australia’s ability to produce elite wrestlers. “I follow all wrestling competition(s). Like I saw all world championships, Olympic games, international tournaments. I don’t see some people from Australia there. Sorry but this is true.” Makhachev said this in response to the journalist’s question during the media scrum.
Robert Whittaker, the former UFC middleweight champion, is a national freestyle wrestling champion. Whittaker earn that honor in 2017. He even defeated Yoel Romero, a multi-time wrestling world champion and Olympic Games silver medalist. Ed Gallo from Bloody Elbow even called Whittaker “a wrestler’s nightmare”.
Islam Makhachev’s opponent, Alexander Volkanovski also has very underrated wrestling credentials. He started Greco-Roman wrestling at the age of 12 and even won a national title. Volkanovski even revealed that one of the main influences in his switch to MMA was his Greco-Roman wrestling background. So it’s safe to say that Islam Makhachev’s assessment is quite inaccurate.
Islam Makhachev also disparaged Australian wrestlers on the DC & RC show
Earlier, on the DC & RC show, the UFC 284 headliners were interviewed together by Daniel Cormier. The UFC lightweight and featherweight champions shared quite a few intense exchanges during the show. Though both of them seemed to be joking, the undertones of the conversation told a different story.
On that show, Islam Makhachev made his initial comments about Australia. “All my opponents say I’m gonna stop his wrestling he not going to take me down but brother Australia doesn’t have wrestling,” said Makhachev to Cormier. He even taunted Volkanovski, asking the featherweight champion to wrestle in the Olympics. He said, “Alex if you are a good wrestler and have a good defense, you can go to the Olympic games from Australia.”
After these comments, it is clear that Islam Makhachev does not think too highly of Australians’ wrestling ability. But it would be foolish on the lightweight champion’s part to entirely dismiss Alexander Volkanovski’s wrestling ability, especially his defensive wrestling. Former UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya once revealed that even he had a hard time keeping Volk down.
Adesanya said on the FLAGRANT podcast, “Even with Volk, I’ve tried to hold him down. I’m not the greatest wrestler, but even with my frame and my leverage, it’s hard to hold him down.” Just the fact that Volkanovski can even compete with Adesanya on the mat despite their size difference is something that should scare Makhachev. Clearly, Alexander “The Great” is not a man to be underestimated.