Israel Adesanya has heaped praise on Islam Makhachev’s striking intelligence, highlighting the lightweight champion’s feint-heavy performance against Jack Della Maddalena as one of the finest displays of deception he has witnessed inside the UFC.
Speaking during a recent interview, the former middleweight champion explained that Makhachev’s ability to repeatedly disguise his intentions stood out more than any single strike landed. ‘The Last Stylebender’ said:
“For the best in the UFC, you look at Islam vs JDM, I was very impressed with Islam’s feinting. I always say sometimes, I over-feint, but that’s good because they never know when it’s coming.”
“Islam did that in his last fight, there were times he feinted 12 times before he even threw a jab. I was really impressed with that.”
Check out Israel Adesanya’s comments about Islam Makhachev below:
Israel Adesanya praises the subtle details behind Islam Makhachev’s success
While Islam Makhachev is widely regarded as one of the UFC’s premier grapplers, Israel Adesanya’s comments focused on a less-discussed aspect of the Dagestani’s game.
Rather than relying solely on wrestling, Makhachev consistently used feints to manipulate Maddalena’s reactions, forcing the Australian to second-guess his defensive reads before committing to strikes or takedown entries. The constant threat of level changes and counters prevented ‘JDM’ from settling into a rhythm throughout the contest. As a result, Makhachev secured a unanimous decision win to capture the welterweight title.
Adesanya, one of the most accomplished strikers in UFC history, emphasized that elite feinting is a skill that often goes unnoticed by fans despite being fundamental to high-level mixed martial arts.
Makhachev’s latest performance further strengthened his reputation as one of the sport’s most complete fighters. Already recognized for his dominant grappling and suffocating top control, the reigning champion continues to refine his stand-up under longtime coach Javier Mendez at American Kickboxing Academy.
The praise also comes at a pivotal moment for the pound-for-pound king, who is preparing to defend his title against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330. With Garry known for his movement, range management, and technical striking, Makhachev’s ability to disguise his attacks through feints could once again prove to be a decisive weapon.
As fight week approaches, Adesanya’s assessment offers another reminder that Makhachev’s dominance extends well beyond his wrestling. According to one of the UFC’s most accomplished strikers, it is the champion’s subtle craftsmanship and ability to manipulate opponents before throwing a strike that separates him from the rest of the roster.
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