The Sambo and Judo Foundation
At the heart of Makhachev’s style is Combat Sambo, the Soviet martial art he, like his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov, was immersed in from a young age in Dagestan. Unlike pure wrestling that often focuses on explosive double-leg takedowns, Sambo emphasizes
trips, throws, and body-lock takedowns from the clinch. Makhachev is a master of using an opponent's momentum against them, employing beautiful judo-style reaps and throws like the Harai Goshi and Uchi Mata. This approach is incredibly efficient; he doesn’t waste energy on explosive shots from a distance. Instead, he closes the distance with his striking, initiates a clinch, and from there, his opponents are in his world, where balance is a luxury they can't afford.
Relentless Chain Wrestling
A failed takedown attempt against Islam Makhachev is rarely a moment of relief for his opponent—it's often the beginning of the end. He is a master of “chain wrestling,” a process where he seamlessly transitions from one takedown attempt to another. If an opponent defends an initial trip, Makhachev is already moving to a body lock. If they defend the body lock, he might drop down to a single leg. He uses the cage to his advantage, pinning opponents and giving them no room to escape his grasp. This relentless sequence of attacks drains his opponent's stamina and forces defensive errors, creating openings that he expertly exploits to finally drag the fight to the mat.
Suffocating Top Control
Once the fight hits the canvas, Makhachev's true dominance begins. His top control is methodical and crushing. He immediately works to flatten his opponent out, using a cross-face and an underhook to control their posture and prevent them from creating space. Grappling expert Craig Jones, who has coached against Makhachev, notes that his key skill is putting opponents in positions where they can't get their feet on the mat, neutralizing traditional jiu-jitsu escapes. From this dominant top-half position, he methodically applies pressure, mixing in short, distracting punches while hunting for submissions. He doesn't rush; he wears opponents out with pressure and submission threats until they make a mistake, often giving up their back or exposing an arm for a kimura or arm-triangle choke.
A Deceptively Simple Striking Game
For years, the book on Makhachev was to beat him on the feet. That book is now dangerously outdated. His striking has evolved from a liability into a formidable weapon, not because it's flashy, but because it’s perfectly integrated with his grappling threat. As a southpaw, his lead hand and kicks are constant tools. He uses feints and precise, straight punches to force reactions. For example, he might faint a straight left to make an opponent drop their rear hand, only to land a clean lead hook. This calculated striking creates openings not just for more strikes, but for his primary weapon: the takedown. The constant threat of his grappling makes opponents hesitant to commit to their own offense, allowing him to control the distance and rhythm of the fight on the feet before inevitably taking it to the ground.
