Takedown breakdown: UFC contender Islam Makhachev’s foot sweep

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC Islam Makhachev is a talented wrestler on his feet, not just on the mat.Heralded as the next Dagestani grappler to dominate the UFC’s lightweight division, Islam Makhachev has been mythologized to a degree. When his teammate and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov rose to greatness, many treated his wrestling and grappling ability as magical, unknowable, and unbeatable. The truth of the matter is that while the physical attributes that come from a lifetime of grappling are hard to compete with, it’s attention to detail, and the use of systems that sets these athletes apart. Small adjustments in common positions can open up a world of possibilities. Islam Makhachev’s foot sweep against Arman Tsarukyan is one such example.

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