All eyes will be on Islam Makhachev as he makes his return to the Octagon on June 2. Following a sizable layoff, the Dagestani man in his bid to be an active champion has set his eyes on his next opponent. That said, as some suggest, there is still more that he is yet to show in his game.
For those unaware, Islam Makhachev will take on Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 302. Taking place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, the event is centered around Makhachev and the third defense of his lightweight title. Interestingly, it will be the second time in his UFC tenure that Islam faces an opponent who is ranked within the division’s top 5 at the time of their fight.
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With doubts about his credibility as a dominant lightweight champion, there are certain sections of the fanbase yet to be convinced by Islam Makhachev. Often labeled as a carbon copy of his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov, the fans have been yearning to see something new and unexpected from the fighter. As it turns out, his upcoming fight could well be the first instance of them actually witnessing that.
Islam Makhachev’s coach reveals that the best is yet to come from his striking
For the most part, Islam Makhachev has been rounding out the end of his training camp in Newark, New Jersey alongside Usman Nurmagomedov, Belal Muhammad, and others. Prior to that, his initial training in Dagestan focused a lot on his all-roundedness for the fight, including his durability, stamina, endurance, and specifically, his striking.
That said, in a recent vlog from his earlier training, head coach and striking specialist, Magomedgadhzi Bagandov spoke about Islam’s prowess in the department. Whilst most of his fights have highlighted his dominance as a wrestler and grappler, his coach believes that he is yet to showcase a lot with his striking as well.
“Islam Makhachev is a versatile fighter, just like me. Xavier Mendes used to say that many people underestimate him. Everyone talks about his wrestling, but I think he hasn’t fully revealed his skills in striking. This is actually a good thing, as he will surprise many.”
“Even in interviews, many people analyze him. In my opinion, as a striking coach, he hasn’t even revealed his potential in this area. Yes, he is a versatile fighter, and I am looking forward to the fight where he will show this aspect of his abilities.”
For the most part, owing to how he has been brought up, wrestling and Sambo come as second nature to many Dagestani fighters. That said, Islam Makhachev intends to break that mold and show the same level of skill and comfort in the striking department as well. Seeing that he has already started to show hints of that in his latest fights, fans can seemingly expect to see more of it in his next fight.
Dustin Poirier cannot underestimate Islam Makhachev’s striking
All things considered, the matchup between Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier is set to be an interesting one for a number of reasons. With fans watching on, keeping numerous superstitions and ‘curses’ in mind, the fight will be an exciting one and the perfect opportunity for Islam to showcase his striking against one of the most tenured strikers on the roster.
That said, there are a lot of threats that Islam Makhachev poses that Poirier will need to be worried about. Ahead of the fight, both athletes have had their say on how they think the fight is going to play out. Whilst Islam has been very tongue-in-cheek with his comments, Poirier seems to be on a knife’s edge, ready to throw all he has and try to knock out the Dagestani champion. However, Makhachev seemingly intends to do the same.
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Coming off a head-kick KO of the former #1 P4P fighter, Alexander Volkanovski, Islam is eyeing a similar finish against Poirier, seeing his weakness as the same. Either way, we have also started to see him let his hands go a lot more like in the Oliveira and the first Volk fight. While Dustin has been hard at work brushing up on his wrestling, he will need to be at his sharpest on the feet as well, lest he risks getting outdone in boxing, his true pride and joy.