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Khabib and Mendes did not let Makhachev work in stand-up against Della Maddalena

Alexandr Ormanji Nov. 16, 2025, 9:39 a.m.

The new UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev shared how Khabib Nurmagomedov and Javier Mendes did not let him work in stand-up against Della Maddalena, forcing him to take him to the ground.

“Javier and Khabib blocked my work in stand-up. I can fight with anyone, but they said: ‘Take him to the ground, control him, why complicate things?’

That's why Khabib never puts the microphone away in his pocket, and that's why the UFC turns the camera to our corner. He has aged because of us. I really appreciate him because he stopped competing but dedicated his entire life to us,” Makhachev said in an interview with ESPN MMA.

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