Islam Makhachev is one of the most complete lightweights in MMA: elite wrestling, calm fight IQ, excellent cardio, and improving striking. That makes him a very hard matchup. Still, no fighter is untouchable. If you’re studying how to beat Islam Makhachev, the key is to exploit small windows where his system is less effective and force him into uncomfortable fights he prefers to avoid.
Below is a clear, practical plan — written in plain language — covering the kinds of fighters and tactics that give Makhachev trouble, and why. Use this to evaluate matchups or understand the strategy behind potential upsets.
Core idea: take him out of his control game
Makhachev wins by possession: he takes opponents down, controls position, grinds out rounds, and lets attrition do the rest. So the first rule is simple:
Don’t let him dominate position. Either stop takedowns, win the range battle, or make takedowns costly and risky.
Primary tactics that work
1. Use rangy, high-output striking to punish entries
Fighters who can stay outside and keep a steady volume of strikes make Islam’s entries harder. Think long jab, angled kicks, teep kicks, and lateral movement. If you can land on his approach consistently, he will be forced to respect distance and hesitate on level changes. That hesitation limits his takedown success and reduces control time on the mat.
Why it works: Makhachev often closes distance with low-volume, precise shots before clinching and shooting. If those approaches get punished, he loses the timing and comfort to initiate wrestling.
2. Leg kicks and calf kicks to slow his grips and takedown legwork
Leg kicks don’t need to finish the fight; they can change how he plants, drives, and chains takedowns. Consistent low kicks slow his lead leg, reduce explosive single-leg entries, and make clinch drives less powerful.
Why it works: Wrestling needs a stable base. Disrupt the base, and takedown attempts become half-measures that open counters or escapes.
3. Elite takedown defense + scramble mastery
The best path is to mix rangy striking with top-level takedown defense. That includes sprawls, underhooks on shots, and immediate scramble awareness to get back to feet. If you can get back up quickly and reset, you avoid extended control time that sways judges.
Why it works: Even if Islam gets you down sometimes, his wins often come from long top control. Breaking his top time neutralizes his biggest advantage.
4. Counter-punching on level changes and entries
Timing is crucial. Fighters who time his double-leg entries with sharp counters (overhand, uppercut, knees) can catch him as he changes levels. A well-timed counter can wobble him, force him to reset, or end the entry entirely.
Why it works: Makhachev rarely rushes; he uses steady pressure. A sharp counter takes away the luxury of a slow, methodical approach.
5. Pressure with movement — make it a fight, not a mat session
If the challenger keeps moving, circles off the fence, and doesn’t allow long clinch phases, Islam has fewer opportunities to pin and pass. Pressure that is mobile — forward movement without getting cornered — forces him to fight in a more upright, striking-oriented space.
Why it works: His best work happens when he pins opponents and grinds. If you deny that position, the fight becomes closer on points.
Matchup types that present value
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Tall, rangy, technical boxers who use jab and kicks well.
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Elite wrestlers with scramble speed who can threaten his top position and create dangerous transitions.
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Explosive knockout artists who can finish early if Islam overcommits on entries (higher variance but possible upset path).
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High-level BJJ artists who survive initial takedowns and create submission windows in scrambles.
Each profile has trade-offs: boxers must avoid being taken down; wrestlers must avoid being outstruck; finishers must survive the early grind.
Mistakes to avoid when trying to beat him
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Rushing and being reckless — Makhachev punishes sloppy entries and will capitalize on bad positioning.
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Thinking one tool wins the fight — pure boxing or pure wrestling alone isn’t enough. You need a multi-layered plan.
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Underestimating his cardio — he’s comfortable in late rounds; bring your own gas tank or plan for short, high-impact bursts.
Round-by-round gameplan
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Round 1: Test distance, establish jab, probe with leg kicks. See how he reacts to counters and whether he adjusts entries.
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Round 2–3: Increase bodywork and combos if takedown attempts slow; push pace to force him to wrestle faster than he likes.
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Later rounds: If you’ve avoided long control time, press for finishes or win decisive striking rounds. If he has control, focus on threat-based escapes and scoring with late offense.
Mental and camp factors
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Confidence and composure matter. If a challenger panics after a takedown, they lose. Train to stay calm in bad positions and to counter from the bottom.
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Game planning and sparring partners must mirror Makhachev’s pressure style. Simulating his tempo in camp is essential.
Final takeaway
Beating Islam Makhachev is not about a single magic trick. It requires a smart, layered plan: keep him at range, punish entries, disrupt his base with leg kicks, and have elite takedown defense and scramble work ready. The most realistic upset paths are fighters who combine rangy striking with strong takedown defense or elite scramble/submission specialists who can turn a brief takedown into a submission threat.
In short: don’t let him turn the fight into a long mat war. Force him to fight your fight — and you’ll find the best chance to win.
