Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje get ready to fight at UFC 254 (Photo/Getty Images)In terms of MMA action featuring former wrestlers, the past few weeks has not had much to offer us wrestling fans. Thankfully actual wrestling has started to heat up a bit and get moving. But this past weekend the UFC was back doing its Fight Island thing and there was a good bit of wrestling talent represented on the card. In fact, I can't remember the last time an MMA card featured such a varied offering of wrestlers from a plethora of wrestling backgrounds. Starting with the main event, let's take a look at the takeaways from each fight at UFC 254 that featured a former high-level wrestler.
Khabib Nurmagomedov
Despite being utterly dominant for the majority of his career (especially in recent years), leading up to this fight, many fans and pundits have lamented the possibility of Dagestan's Nurmagomedov finally taking an L. There are several reasons for this, all relatively valid, but ultimately proven to be misguided. How would Nurmagomedov maintain his hunger now that he's secured fame, fortune, and a legacy? How would he do against a real deal, bona fide, wrestling stud like Gaethje? How would he handle the tragic loss of his lifelong trainer and father? Well, we learned this weekend that Khabib Nurmagomedov is just a different kind of fighter. Allow me to elaborate.
Nurmagomedov is a man bred from birth for hand-to-hand combat. Born and raised in the combat sports hot zone of Dagestan in Southern Russia, he had early access to the highest level of instruction and training partners. Highly trained in freestyle wrestling, judo, sambo, and submission grappling, interestingly, Khabib doesn't have the competitive wrestling credentials you'd expect from such a wrestling powerhouse. He wrestled in local leagues and federations only up until the cadet level. However, Khabib is a wrestler.
Relatively limited competitive exploits aside, growing up deeply plugged in to the wrestling clubs of the region and having friends who pursued the sport vigorously, Khabib has spent countless hours sharing a mat with a who's who of wrestling royalty. Sazhid Sazhidov (two-time world champ, Olympic bronze), Abdusalam Gadisov (world champ, world silver, Olympian), Magomedrasul Gazimagomedov (two-time world champ), and Gadzhimurad Nurmagomedov (Olympian) are just a few of the Russian greats that helped build the wrestling skill of Nurmagomedov as coaches and training partners.
Once singularly focused on MMA, Khabib moved around a bit as he rounded out his skills. He stopped at Combat Dobro, a top freestyle club in Ukraine. He spent time at Fairfield, New Jersey's K-Dojo Warrior Tribe, an MMA gym packed with Caucasus wrestling talent, including multiple-time world champion wrestler Bilyal Makhov when he began his anticlimactic foray in MMA. Next stop was American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California, home to Daniel Cormier and the army of wrestlers he draws to the west coast MMA mecca.
The result of this vast wrestling education is a fighter on a level all his own. On Saturday night, Khabib didn't simply go out there and outwrestle Justin Gaethje. He outsmarted, out-hustled, out-pressured, and out-fought the interim 155-pound champ. Employing unrelenting forward pressure and nonstop offense, Khabib struck when Gaethje expected a wrestler, wrestled when expected to strike, and went for unexpected submissions where he'd normally unleash ground-and-pound and top control. It was a masterful performance from the best fighter on the planet. He retired in the cage after the fight, sitting pretty as an undefeated champion. I'd certainly love some more fights from Khabib, but the man has earned his rest.
Justin Gaethje
The former multiple-time Colorado high school state champ, Fargo All-American (Greco), and NCAA Division I All-American has largely been seen as the most perilous matchup for Khabib Nurmagomedov as of late. His extensive wrestling experience, heavy hands, nasty low kicks, and newfound tactical acumen led many to believe he was just too dangerous at this particular point in his career. Unfortunately, he came up short but he should hold his head high. Gaethje is a fighter currently at his best. He is skilled, he is strong, he is experienced, and he is unbreakable in every way. It just so happens that he fights in a division that is/was ruled by a generational force in Khabib Nurmagomedov.
This past weekend Gaethje seemed to be off his best a bit. The normally unshakable, totally unfazed disposition of Gaethje seemed to be there, but once the fight began we saw what looked like nerves and an adrenaline dump. He was a bit more fatigued than he should have been in Round 1 of a title fight. That's not to say he looked bad or out of his league, not at all. Gaethje threw heat with his newly refined boxing prowess, he shucked off at least one Nurmagomedov tie-up and takedown attempt, and he was throwing his signature low leg kicks. In addition to all this, Gaethje prepped heavily for this fight with 2006 NCAA Division I champ Ben Cherrington, leading us to believe he might finally unleash his wrestling. Despite this, apparently it just wasn't his time yet.
Gaethje fights best while moving forward. In his earlier career he would simply allow opponents to unload all of the offense they had as he'd let them break themselves while trying to break him. He's maintained the grit that made him so good as he picked up experience and polish, coming into this title fight as dangerous as any lightweight in memory. As stated earlier, Gaethje should be undeterred by this loss. He's going to be seriously tough to beat for most, and Khabib's apparent retirement makes things even more interesting. Maybe we see Gaethje fight for the vacant title next against newly signed UFC star and fellow Division I wrestler Michael Chandler? We shall see.
Robert Whittaker
In terms of wrestling skill and wrestling credentials, former UFC 185-pound champ Whittaker is another interesting case. The man affectionately known as Bobby Knuckles was not a wrestler in his youth and was not known as a wrestler upon entering the UFC. Whittaker was mostly successful in his MMA career as he entered the UFC, however, he was soundly defeated by three men, all notable wrestlers. Whitaker eventually moved up a division to 185 pounds and began a pretty remarkable run towards the title. During his hot streak, Whittaker found himself holding his own in wrestling situations against some seriously skilled wrestlers, chief among them was Olympic silver medalist Yoel Romero.
What most hadn't realized, was that in 2015 Whittaker began immersing himself in freestyle wrestling. Australian wrestling is certainly not amongst the world's best, but the land down under has a firmly established national federation and has become the adopted home of many a world-class wrestler hailing from everywhere from Uzbekistan to India to Iran. Whittaker eventually won Aussie Nationals at 97 kilos. Twice. He qualified for the 2018 Commonwealth Games but had to focus on MMA.
Anyway, Whittaker relinquished his belt about a year ago, but has slowly and steadily began fighting his way back. This past weekend, against a very dangerous opponent, Whittaker showed all of the same tools he used to capture the strap in the first place, along with his trademark toughness, and more offensive wrestling than usual. Normally one to use his wrestling to win clinch battles and to stop takedowns in open space, on Saturday we some nice double legs and more aggression in wrestling situations. Along with his fantastic punch combos, sneaky high kicks, and veteran savvy, wrestling offense might be just the thing that takes Whittaker back to the title.
Phil Hawes
2009 NJCAA national champion Phil Hawes has been on the MMA radar for quite a few years now. Identified as a top prospect in 2015, injuries, contract disputes, difficulty finding opponents, and untimely setbacks prevented Hawes from breaking through and making good on his massive potential. That has all changed now.
The freak athlete who wrestled collegiately at Iowa Central Community College, Iowa State University, and Wartburg College has finally arrived. Hawes seized his place at the table on Saturday by violently knocking out his opponent in 18 seconds flat. Hawes has always had the physical tools and athleticism to hang with anyone, both in wrestling and in MMA, but he lacked the confidence and technical prowess to win at the highest levels. Having spent the last few years working on his mental game, Hawes is now on another level. Look for Hawes to remain active and attract a ton of attention with his super-entertaining brand of fighting.
Casey Kenney
Now six fights and five wins into his UFC run, lighter-weight wrestling dynamo Casey Kenney is officially noticed. Kenney has impressed thoroughly thus far in his MMA career, and his personality, high-speed, high-output fighting style is garnering him a lot of fans. The Indiana high school state runner-up who left a promising NCAA DII stint early, might just be championship material. He can do it all inside the cage, and now, after winning a very high pressure, competitive firefight this past weekend, Kenney will continue his climb. After winning his fight, and a $50,000 performance bonus on Saturday, Kenney hinted at rematching Merab Dvalishvili next. The Georgian powerhouse defeated Kenney soundly in their fight, especially in the wrestling exchanges. Kenney, a lifelong wrestler and former fixture on the Indian high school scene in all three styles (including judo), might be particularly inclined to want to run that one back.
Alexander Yakovlev
The MMA career of the Russian wrestler Alexander Yakovlev can be best described as enjoyable. Yakovlev, a very talented fighter, possesses a fully three-dimensional skill set and is a very skilled wrestler to boot. Having attained the rank of Russian National Master of Sport in freestyle wrestling, and seeing how his brother, Rasul Tikhaev has wrestled internationally for both Russia and Belarus, Yakovlev's takedowns and grappling in particular have been formidable weapons for sure. Unfortunately for Yakovlev, he was tapped out in the first round this past weekend and now sports a 3-6 UFC record. Might be back to the reginal scene for this likeable Russian soon.
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