Velasquez Recalls When Islam Makhachev Hit Him With Shots

Cain Velasquez knew Islam Makhachev was bound for greatness long before the Russian became a two-division UFC champion.

The former heavyweight champion trained alongside Makhachev for years at American Kickboxing Academy, sharing rounds with the lightweight standout when both were still developing their games. Velasquez told the Shawn Ryan Show that Makhachev landed combinations on him during light sparring that nobody else could connect with, according to MMA Fighting.

Velasquez On Makhachev's Complete Skill Set At AKA

Velasquez rolled with some of the sport's best during his time at AKA, working alongside teammates like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Daniel Cormier. But Makhachev stood out even in that elite room. The Russian's technical precision forced Velasquez to take notice early, with the UFC Hall of Famer saying he would get caught by strikes and wonder where they came from.

Makhachev has since captured UFC gold at lightweight and welterweight, cementing his status as one of the sport's pound-for-pound best. He recently said his next fight will be one of his last in the sport, per the same report.

An interim welterweight title bout between Carlos Prates and the undefeated Michael Morales has been set for UFC 336 in Toronto. The winner is expected to unify with Makhachev sometime in 2027, though the champion has not specified exactly how many more fights remain on his schedule.

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• BJPenn — Cain Velasquez recalls when he first knew Islam Makhachev was special: “F*cking good everywhere”