![Islam Makhachev spars with heavyweight fighters in the gym. [Image courtesy: Getty]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2025/05/cdabc-17470254657272-1920.jpg)
![Islam Makhachev spars with heavyweight fighters in the gym. [Image courtesy: Getty]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Coach Javier Mendez recently revealed that Islam Makhachev trains with heavyweight fighters in the gym. Mendez expressed his concerns with this practice, citing the possibility of injury to the UFC lightweight champion.
For more than a decade, Mendez has been an indispensable contributor to Makhachev's prosperous UFC career. Currently, the Dagestani is riding on a dominating 15-fight win streak, with just a single defeat in the top MMA organization.
During an exclusive recent interview with Red Corner MMA, the famous MMA coach elaborated on little-known facts about Makhachev in detail and said:
"I have seen him fight with bigger guys—he beats them up. He beats up everybody. I've seen Islam [Makhachev] do that. I've even seen him do this in Dagestan, when I watched him go with a heavyweight. He's not as experienced as him but he was a freaking heavyweight and I don't like it.
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He added:
"I told Khabib, 'What the hell is he doing sparring with a heavyweight?' That guy hits him one time, even though he didn't touch him,... that's not good for him cause he's a smaller guy. The guy outweighed Islam by at least 50 pounds"
Check out Javier Mendez's comments below:
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones gets honest about Islam Makhachev's future
Jon Jones is a veteran in the UFC and has witnessed the rise of Islam Makhachev within the promotion. At present, Makhachev has surpassed Jones in the pound-for-pound UFC rankings due to his dominating performances in the octagon.
In a recent discussion while filming for the ALF Global Reality show, Jones shared his thoughts on the UFC lightweight champion, saying:
"He is saying that [Islam] is a little new in the sport still, to be even considered. But he's got a big future. The longer you're on top, the more your opponents get to study your footage. People fixate on fighting you instead of their next opponent. It gets harder and harder the longer you stay on top."
Check out Jon Jones' comments on Islam Makhachev (via @Home_of_Fight on X) below:
