Alexander Volkanovski is going to be in for a shock if he thinks the only way to beat Islam Makhachev is by stopping his takedowns and keeping the fight on the feet.
That’s according to Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, who claims Makhachev proved in his stoppage victory against Charles Oliveira that he is “the most well-rounded lightweight of all time”.
At UFC 280, Makhachev’s striking abilities were on full display as he was able to knock down Oliveira with his punches before ultimately finishing the fight with a submission (arm triangle choke) in the second round.
Now “the secret’s out” regarding Makhachev’s striking, Mendez expects his prized student to secure the top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings with a win over Volkanovski next month.