168-3 Freestyle Wrestler Praises Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev’s Wrestling in Rare UFC Take
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Abdulrashid Sadulaev praised the wrestling of Khabib Nurmagomedov (right) and Islam Makhachev (left). [Images via UFC]
Russian freestyle wrestler Abdulrashid Sadulaev has hailed the elite wrestling of UFC legends Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.
Nurmagomedov is widely considered one of the greatest fighters to step inside the UFC octagon. His relentless pressure and ability to smother his opponents on the ground before eventually securing submissions enabled him to dominate his fights and retire with a perfect 29-0 record.
Meanwhile, Makhachev brings an evolved version of ‘The Eagle’s’ game. The reigning welterweight champion uses his elite wrestling to complement and set up his striking, making him one of the most well-rounded fighters on the UFC roster.
![Khabib Nurmagomedov (right) cornered Islam Makhachev (left) at UFC 302. [Images via UFC]](https://ufcdailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Untitled-design-86-1024x536.png)
Over the course of his career, Makhachev has secured both submission and knockout victories over some of the biggest names in mixed martial arts. He currently sits at the top of UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings. Speaking about the Dagestani phenoms, ‘Russian Tank’ stated:
“Technically, I really liked Khabib’s wrestling. He’d take people down and never let them get back up. He used a kind of crucifix position that completely shut his opponents down. Islam’s wrestling is good too.”
Check out Sadulaev’s comments about Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev below:
Khabib Nurmagomedov reacts to Islam Makhachev getting kicked in the groin during training
Recent behind-the-scenes footage showed Islam Makhachev having a friendly spar with a kid in his gym. What caught fans’ attention was Makhachev getting hit with a low blow during the playful back-and-forth. Nurmagomedov reacted quickly to the situation and took to social media to share his thoughts. He wrote:
“Act like no pain.”
Check out Khabib Nurmagomedov’s comments below:
Nurmagomedov’s lighthearted reaction offered a glimpse into the playful camaraderie shared by the two fighters behind the scenes. Makhachev defeated Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 and is now rumored to fight Ian Machado Garry later this year. A win against the Irishman could set up a potential superfight against Ilia Topuria at some point next year.
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