No Russian Domination: Coach Predicts Islam Makhachev’s Grappling Trouble

Firas Zahabi has spent more time in the gym breaking down Islam Makhachev’s game than most analysts have spent watching film. So when theTristar Gym head coach sat down with the *Home of Fight* account and dropped the line that Makhachev will “struggle to take Ilia” down, the MMA world went still. This wasn’t some anonymous fan theory. This was the man who cornered Georges St-Pierre and countless champions, being direct about the biggest stylistic question mark in the lightweight division.

League sources confirm Zahabi’s assessment is gaining traction inside the coaching community. The front office has been quietly monitoring Islam’s recent performances, and those close to the situation say there is a growing concern that the Dagestani wrestler’s takedown-heavy approach might face its stiffest test yet. Makhachev, for all his dominance, often relies on chain-wrestling and grinding pressure to wear opponents down. Ilia Topuria, meanwhile, possesses the kind of core strength and hip escape instinct that has historically given wrestlers fits at the elite level. Zahabi’s point isn’t that Makhachev can’t win — it’s that the path to victory won’t look like the usual one.

The context matters. Topuria, who has cleared out the featherweight division and called his shot at the 155-pound throne, presents a nightmare matchup for anyone trying to plant him on the canvas. He has a judo base, a relaxed stance that resists level changes, and the kind of scrambling ability that makes a single takedown attempt turn into a two-minute cardio struggle. Where Makhachev succeeded against Charles Oliveira by turning the bout into a survival grinder, Topuria has shown he can fight off his back and generate offense from uncomfortable positions.

What happens next is still the biggest open question in the sport. The UFC has not officially booked the fight, but sources close to both camps indicate negotiations are serious and that the promotion wants this for late summer or early fall. Zahabi’s comments, however brief, poured cold water on the idea that this is a simple coronation. If the man who helped build one of the greatest champions ever says the takedowns won’t come easy, it’s worth paying attention to how Makhachev’s corner adjusts their game plan — because the grappling chess match might be decided in the first exchange, not the fifth round.

Source: https://x.com/Home_of_Fight/status/2047280077973438670