Makhov warns heavyweights: Olympic Gold then UFC title

[kflo]

Since we're bringing up "the highest level" of athletes, it's worth noting that Brock and Coleman aren't nearly the wrestlers that Rulon was.

well, it's also worth noting they were both much better collegiate (folkstyle) wrestlers (and brock did it in the same weight class).

 

[Kickwrestler]

Okay, a bigass wrestler with athletic gifts. we may have seen this before. Those guys need get smoked across the jaw by pissed-off heavyweights a few times before we can seriously gauge their potential as prizefighters.

He's from Russia though.

Punching each other in the face is how they greet each other over there.

 

[Uncle Termite]

Because above 265 is super heavyweight...there is a weight class for it, the UFC just doesn't have that division because there isn't enough talent in it.

Based on what?Anyone over 225 would then be considered a hw and below a LHw,if they restructured the system...if anything they would just make anyone above 225 a HW,and that eliminates the 205 and above HW Unlimited class which doesnt make sense !

There will never be a 265 and over in any combat sport this century !

 

[chubbman]

Can he take a punch?

 

[deltapapha]

Assuming he could actually make weight, and not knowing zilch about him other than that he has been principally a bronze medalist for the last 5 years (in wrestling), I wouldn't lay a single dime on him vs any current top ranked HW or LHW (who moved up). There is not yet a shred of evidence that he would in any way be competitive in the UFC.

 

[Ryoto Machida]

LOL at the Lesnar comparisons.

Brock was a one time NCAA Champ.

Bilyal is a 3 time World Champ and an Olympic Bronze medallist.

Different galaxies here.

 

[sonofbrodin]

Assuming he could actually make weight, and not knowing zilch about him other than that he has been principally a bronze medalist for the last 5 years (in wrestling), I wouldn't lay a single dime on him vs any current top ranked HW or LHW (who moved up). There is not yet a shred of evidence that he would in any way be competitive in the UFC.

It's times like this I wish there was a dislike button

 

[Uncle Termite]

This is nonsense. Brock is easily the greatest HW of all time. If not for the illness and a lucky punch, he would still be champ.

Being the greatest you have to maintain a prolonged dominance somewhat of a reasonable time or be a main stay in the sport..Lesnar did neither. He could have beat anyone in his short term career excluding when he was to far gone after Cain at any giving day , but that doesnt make him the greatest .

 

[Ironmonger]

The UFC needs to drop the 265 lb ceiling on HW. A guy who wrestles at 290 probably doesn't have a Roy Nelson-esque physique.

I wish the ufc would implement the one fc non weight cut systeme and then create a cruiser weight division with a 240 limit and a heavyweight one with no limit

Dreams....

 

[Uncle Termite]

When has a wrestler as high level as Makhov NOT done well in MMA? Brock is no where near this guys level when it comes to wrestling

This is true ,almost always even a strong wresting base has won some type of championship , to assume he wont do good or lacks the make up necessary to succeed at any level ,shows who are the new fans or the oblivious ones ,then you take into account not only the guys credentials but his physical attributes and your left just shaking your head as how anyone of common sense would question him even breaking top 10!

Wresting in MMA is different ,the best wrestler doesnt mean the better fighter ,how he will adapt is anyone guess .......Lesnar was able to do this well with the right guys around him in a short amount of time , im assuming he will be more prepared and if thats the case i would give him a probability of 85 % to win a title fight looking down the road...

 

[Givvee]

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

It all depends of course, we don't know how he reacts to getting hit, how well he takes a punch, how quick he develops his standup, but one thing is for sure, he is a world class athlete who's competed at a world class stage for several years, a 3 time world champion in freestyle and managed to medal at freestyle and greco at the same championship, a beast.

If this guy want's to take you down, you are going down.

 

[Werdun]

Yes I did, dummy. I've also seen Bily Mak (training to) strike.

You just assume a guy who can wrestle will have the same clinch, same GNP, deal the same amount of damage as a guy like cain

There are no MMA fighters like Cain

He will have better clinch and i bet that he will have even more powerful gnp. Also that level wrestler will ragdoll rothwell even with 0! Striking

 

[Final Say]

He will have better clinch and i bet that he will have even more powerful gnp. Also that level wrestler will ragdoll rothwell even with 0! Striking

Maybe, mostly unknowns.

In my first post I did qualify what I said was 'unless he takes striking very seriously'. It's not unlikely that he will. We just have to see

 

[Hungry Friend]

Can't have too many good HWs because as others have said, the best guys are getting old. Werdum is 38 ffs and as great as he is, you can only stay champ for so long when you win the title in your late 30s; father time is and will remain undefeated. I agree even more strongly that the 265lb limit is utter nonsense and the whole point of HW is that it's the big mens' division, and that means the biggest guys should NOT have to cut weight. I wanna see the big guys at full strength.

 

[mmafan559]

Russian male Gabi.

 

[TrueMykill]

He'll be fighting Francis Ngannou when he gets here.

 

[youngsteinel]

He won't win the Olympics. He won't beat Akgul. Good to see another HW prospect though

 

[SenorGuillen]

Cannot wait for Cain to smash this guy the same way he did to Lesnar.

 

[Rex Kwon Do]

Jones will never move to heavyweight now he'll stay at lhw to duck Makhov

Jones probably has a significant reach advantage and Makhov still has eyeballs, doesn't he?

 

[BustaHimes]

I love the idea of new age athletes for our great sport! He looks like he will be hard for anyone to handle