Makhov warns heavyweights: Olympic Gold then UFC title

[Faceplanter]

AFAIK it's unprecedented in the modern era for the UFC to sign guys with essentially no fights just to build up a new signing. Especially a Muslim guy from the Caucasus who doesn't speak English. I mean, there will be a precedent by the time he fights (most likely) and that will be CM Punk's opponent. But Punk is a pretty unique case due to his celebrity. My hunch is that the commission will only let him fight very, very inexperienced fighters, and it'll be weird to see that caliber of guy signed to the UFC; some 1-3 guy with no skills from Indiana just brought it to get thwomped. Will he be a one and done? Cut after he loses to Makhov? There won't be anyone else to fight for that guy in the division.

It's something new that they're doing, apparently. CM Punk wanted to try this out and the UFC is letting him due to his WWE pro wrestling fame. He was never a combat sports athlete, just an actor pretending to be one on television. Makhov is the real deal and a true A level athlete still in his prime. They signed him to nab him before any other major organization did, most likely.

Lesnar was only a national champion in wrestling while Makhov is already a 3x Freestyle wrestling world champion, and that isn't even counting his other World Championships medals in both Greco and Freestyle or his Olympic bronze medal in Freestyle. Lesnar had even more fame than CM Punk and only had a single fight (win) before he was signed to the UFC and fought Mir.

I'm fine with whatever they do with him. The UFC's Heavyweight division has needed serious talent for a long time, especially elite athletic talent. There's never been a wrestler nearly as decorated as this guy in the UFC's Heavyweight history. Cejudo, who of course isn't a heavyweight, won gold at the 2008 Olympics in Freestyle but doesn't have any medals from the World Championships. Makhov has 7, 3 of them gold, and his last two (from last year) he medaled in both Greco and Freestyle simultaneously.

This guy is on another planet compared to Cormier, Jones, Cain and Lesnar when it comes to wrestling. Whether that translates well into MMA remains to be seen but I suspect it will given he's competed and medaled at the highest levels of the sport in both international forms, Greco and Freestyle.

 

[Rex Kwon Do]

It's something new that they're doing, apparently. CM Punk wanted to try this out and the UFC is letting him due to his WWE pro wrestling fame. He was never a combat sports athlete, just an actor pretending to be one on television. Makhov is the real deal and a true A level athlete still in his prime. They signed him to nab him before any other major organization did, most likely.

Lesnar was only a national champion in wrestling while Makhov is already a 3x Freestyle wrestling world champion, and that isn't even counting his other World Championships medals in both Greco and Freestyle or his Olympic bronze medal in Freestyle. Lesnar had even more fame than CM Punk and only had a single fight (win) before he was signed to the UFC and fought Mir.

I'm fine with whatever they do with him. The UFC's Heavyweight division has needed serious talent for a long time, especially elite athletic talent. There's never been a wrestler nearly as decorated as this guy in the UFC's Heavyweight history. Cejudo, who of course isn't a heavyweight, won gold at the 2008 Olympics in Freestyle but doesn't have any medals from the World Championships. Makhov has 7, 3 of them gold, and his last two (frrom last year) he medaled in both Greco and Freestyle simultaneously.

This guy is on another planet compared to Cormier, Jones, Cain and Lesnar when it comes to wrestling. Whether that translates well into MMA remains to be seen but I suspect it will given he's competed and medaled at the highest levels of the sport in both international forms, Greco and Freestyle.

Just a thought: In hindsight it is pretty amazing they let Lesnar fight Mir in his second professional bout. From that Korean guy to Mir was a huge jump (evidenced by the fact Brock got tapped quickly).

 

[Deleted member 110072]

For MMA as a whole this isn't really that strange at all and I think highlights a key weakness the UFC have in developing talent.

There typical "build yourself up in the little leagues" approach works pretty well with US wrestlers and "MMA from day one" fighters as they really have very little earning potential in there own sports or with the latter don't have an existing sport. The trouble is that a lot of the other potential talent bases in MMA earnings potential in there sport is much better, kickboxers can earn serious $$$, a lot of foreign wrestlers and Judoka get significant state support and/or sponsorship, even high level BJJ guys have much more earning potential than US wrestlers these days from grappling events or teaching. Why would these fighters take a paycut for a significant period gambling on uncertain success in MMA?

If the UFC wanted to expand the talent base and save the higher weightclasses from what looks like massive decline in a few years when the last of the pre UFC monopoly talent drops off they need to get much more proactive in signing up guys like Makhov much faster and paying them better.

 

[Faceplanter]

Just a thought: In hindsight it is pretty amazing they let Lesnar fight Mir in his second professional bout. From that Korean guy to Mir was a huge jump (evidenced by the fact Brock got tapped quickly).

Yeah I don't understand the UFC's logic with that one. Having him fight a former UFC heavyweight champion in his very first fight in the organization and only his second professional MMA fight? That's a bit nuts. But, given Lesnar's size and athleticism, and his former high level wrestling background at the national level as a champion, they probably figured why not. If they do this shit with Makhov it'll really piss me off but I think they're smarter than that now. I hope at least.

 

[Werdun]

A guy like Ben Rothwell knocks him dead unless he takes his striking very seriously

Go watch Velasquez rothwell again. Now imagine 290 pounds Olympic wrestler instead. Then STFU

 

[Patof]

Cool! HW needs prospects, hope this guy is training other aspects of MMA

 

[DLX]

Good. We need some more fucking HWS. That division beyond the top 7 is a barren wasteland.

 

[Timurd123]

He's from Dagestan...

If you guys havent learned anything over the past few years, these guys are born fighters, I guarantee you he can take a punch and more than likely has ,many times in his life, punched people himself

 

[JKS]

He's very fast and agile, this guy could be very dangerous with his size, athleticism and wrestling.

 

[kenwilrob]

anytime someone says they will win multiple titles it makes me think of john dodson and that one, vera i think it was. just win 1 first. then talk about the second one

 

[Serana]

I hope he does well. The UFC desperately needs more HWs.

Just a thought: In hindsight it is pretty amazing they let Lesnar fight Mir in his second professional bout. From that Korean guy to Mir was a huge jump (evidenced by the fact Brock got tapped quickly).

Brock also did very well all things considered.

 

[ArtOfDrowning]

Beast.

But there is a question how he takes getting hit in the face.

 

[Harmonica]

He's also enormous and a true A level athlete..

Impossible. Only NFL and NBA players are true A level athletes.

 

[Future GOAT]

It's something new that they're doing, apparently. CM Punk wanted to try this out and the UFC is letting him due to his WWE pro wrestling fame. He was never a combat sports athlete, just an actor pretending to be one on television. Makhov is the real deal and a true A level athlete still in his prime. They signed him to nab him before any other major organization did, most likely.

Lesnar was only a national champion in wrestling while Makhov is already a 3x Freestyle wrestling world champion, and that isn't even counting his other World Championships medals in both Greco and Freestyle or his Olympic bronze medal in Freestyle. Lesnar had even more fame than CM Punk and only had a single fight (win) before he was signed to the UFC and fought Mir.

I'm fine with whatever they do with him. The UFC's Heavyweight division has needed serious talent for a long time, especially elite athletic talent. There's never been a wrestler nearly as decorated as this guy in the UFC's Heavyweight history. Cejudo, who of course isn't a heavyweight, won gold at the 2008 Olympics in Freestyle but doesn't have any medals from the World Championships. Makhov has 7, 3 of them gold, and his last two (from last year) he medaled in both Greco and Freestyle simultaneously.

This guy is on another planet compared to Cormier, Jones, Cain and Lesnar when it comes to wrestling. Whether that translates well into MMA remains to be seen but I suspect it will given he's competed and medaled at the highest levels of the sport in both international forms, Greco and Freestyle.

I hope he's experienced in Sambo too (pretty sure he is), that will go a long way to improving his chances of success in MMA. Looking forward to seeing him in the UFC.

 

[Paul L]

It's something new that they're doing, apparently. CM Punk wanted to try this out and the UFC is letting him due to his WWE pro wrestling fame. He was never a combat sports athlete, just an actor pretending to be one on television. Makhov is the real deal and a true A level athlete still in his prime. They signed him to nab him before any other major organization did, most likely.

Lesnar was only a national champion in wrestling while Makhov is already a 3x Freestyle wrestling world champion, and that isn't even counting his other World Championships medals in both Greco and Freestyle or his Olympic bronze medal in Freestyle. Lesnar had even more fame than CM Punk and only had a single fight (win) before he was signed to the UFC and fought Mir.

I'm fine with whatever they do with him. The UFC's Heavyweight division has needed serious talent for a long time, especially elite athletic talent. There's never been a wrestler nearly as decorated as this guy in the UFC's Heavyweight history. Cejudo, who of course isn't a heavyweight, won gold at the 2008 Olympics in Freestyle but doesn't have any medals from the World Championships. Makhov has 7, 3 of them gold, and his last two (from last year) he medaled in both Greco and Freestyle simultaneously.

This guy is on another planet compared to Cormier, Jones, Cain and Lesnar when it comes to wrestling. Whether that translates well into MMA remains to be seen but I suspect it will given he's competed and medaled at the highest levels of the sport in both international forms, Greco and Freestyle.

Totally agreed. People don't really understand the level of athlete and wrestler that Makhov is, this guy is unique in MMA, and even if he can't take a punch (he's from Dagestan, he likely can), there's not a single person in the division who can stop him from taking them down if he wants.

The crazy truth about Makhov is his athletic ability and skill are so unprecedented, that opponents may not even get a chance to hit him standing.

I'm pegging him as a future champion.

 

[Mike01010101a]

An athletic and big gold medalist wrestler (especially free style) is always a real treat and threat.

 

[gevoudane]

Isnt he the guy who won both greco and freestyle at the worlds?

 

[gevoudane]

He's been training at k dojo for awhile now. Probably takes getting hit in the face pretty well.

Beast.

But there is a question how he takes getting hit in the face.

 

[hugemmafan22]

Probably be atleast as good as Lesnar, who is one of the most decorated UFC heavyweight champions ever, so I would say he will do pretty well.

 

[bjpenngoat]

i saw a video of him training striking and it was really bad. He is going to get fucking killed in the cage.