Coach Javier Mendez’s confidence in Islam
Makhachev’s striking has grown leaps and bounds over the
years.

Makhachev (28-1) is scheduled to defend his
Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title for the first
time against Ian Garry
(17-1) at UFC
330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. While
Makhachev is known for his wrestling and grappling prowess and
Garry’s main asset is his evasive striking, Mendez claims his pupil
won’t be out of his depth on the feet.

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‘People sleep on his striking’: Javier Mendez hails Islam
Makhachev’s well-rounded skillset

Makhachev’s striking has developed impressively with time, as he
held his own against Dustin
Poirier and knocked out Alexander
Volkanovski with a head kick. Coach Mendez believes Makhachev
doesn’t necessarily need to take Garry down to the canvas to beat
him.

While Makhachev will likely have a massive advantage on the mat,
Mendez believes the champion can win with his striking alone.

“[Islam] is dialed in as a striker,” Mendez said on the Weighing In
podcast. “People sleep on his striking, thinking that he has to
take Ian down. He doesn’t have to take Ian down. Is it the better
choice? Probably, because we know we’re the better grappler for
sure. But do we have to take him down? I’m saying, no, we don’t
have to take him down.”

Makhachev recently admitted that he took the safest route to
victory in his welterweight title win over Jack
Della Maddalena as he was focused on becoming a two-division
champion. The Russian recently vowed to take more risks against
Garry to look for a finish.


IMAK ADMIN

By IMAK ADMIN

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