Islam Makhachev simply made historical past at UFC 322, turning into one of many uncommon fighters to carry titles in two totally different weight courses. He walked out of Madison Sq. Backyard on November 15 with the welterweight belt after completely dominating Jack Della Maddalena for 25 minutes. When it was throughout, Makhachev had a message for the man in Della Maddalena’s nook.
Islam Makhachev’s Jab at Craig Jones After Historic UFC 322 Win
Craig Jones was there teaching Della Maddalena by means of the battle, and Makhachev made a beeline for him afterward. Within the post-fight press convention, Makhachev defined what he stated: “I advised him your jiu-jitsu isn’t working. You must come to Dagestan for 2-3 years.” Jones took it properly. In response to Makhachev, Jones began laughing and even advised Khabib he’d make the journey.
The remark carries weight as a result of this isn’t the primary time Makhachev has confronted somebody underneath Jones’s teaching. Earlier than Della Maddalena, Makhachev beat Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284, and Volkanovski had been coaching extensively with Jones earlier than shifting to welterweight. That makes two of Jones’s high-profile fighters now on the dropping finish of Makhachev’s grappling.
Makhachev took Della Maddalena down within the first minute and principally stayed on high for the remainder of the evening. When judges scored it, that they had it 50-45 throughout the board. Della Maddalena stored defending in opposition to submission makes an attempt however couldn’t do a lot else. By the fifth spherical, his legs had been shot from calf kicks, and he was simply making an attempt to outlive.
Makhachev felt the distinction immediately. On the press convention, he talked about how significantly better he felt combating at this new weight class. “I really feel extra energy, I really feel extra assured once I strike and once I transfer,” he stated. “I can management anybody on the bottom proper now. I by no means felt like this earlier than.”
The actual pressure right here goes deeper than simply Makhachev and Jones. Makhachev’s supervisor Ali Abdelaziz didn’t maintain again after the battle. In an interview with Fox Sports activities, Abdelaziz went after Jones laborious: “This Craig Jones, please deport him brother. He makes guys lose. He’s not good for MMA. Jiu-jitsu isn’t good for MMA.” He later stated Jones was “no person” and only a jiu-jitsu man making an attempt to remain related by means of MMA fighters.
There’s a philosophical divide at play here. Jones comes from the pure Brazilian jiu-jitsu world with submission-heavy methods. Makhachev’s strategy is constructed on wrestling and sambo, extra about management and strain than chasing submissions. Within the cage in opposition to somebody like Makhachev, the submission-first technique didn’t work for Della Maddalena.
Craig Jones is a two-time ADCC World Championship silver medalist who has competed on the highest ranges of submission grappling. In 2017, he had probably the most spectacular runs in ADCC historical past, submitting legendary 5-time world champion Leandro Lo, revered coach Murilo Santana, and UFC veteran Chael Sonnen earlier than falling within the semifinals. Jones is a three-time Polaris Professional Grappling champion and has the most effective submission data within the sport, with 51 of his 63 wins coming by submission. He was the primary Australian male to win an IBJJF World Championship in 2015 at purple belt and holds a level in behavioral science. Within the jiu-jitsu world, his credentials are sterling.
Makhachev is now on a 16-fight successful streak, tying Anderson Silva’s UFC report. With back-to-back title belts and this type of dominance on the bottom, his remark about Dagestan coaching carries the sort of authority that comes from outcomes. Jones laughed it off, however the scorecards don’t lie.
