Three-time freestyle wrestling world champion and Olympic gold medalist Zaurbek Sidakov recently sought the opinion of Former UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev regarding a potential transition to mixed martial arts. In a candid interview, Makhachev offered surprisingly cautious advice to his fellow Dagestani athlete.
When asked how quickly Sidakov could capture an MMA championship belt if he made the switch, Makhachev’s response was measured and thoughtful. While acknowledging Sidakov’s elite-level abilities, the UFC champion expressed reservations about the move entirely.
“I wouldn’t want him to switch,” Makhachev stated frankly. “I would want him to compete in another Olympics.”
Despite his reluctance to encourage the transition, Makhachev acknowledged that Olympic champions who dedicate themselves to new disciplines typically find success.
“I think if such Olympic champions focus on something else, then he will succeed,”
he said.
However, Makhachev’s primary argument centered on Sidakov’s already legendary status in wrestling.
“He is one of the best in the world in wrestling. Why would he leave wrestling when he can benefit from it?”
the champion questioned.
“He is a legend in his sport, he has proved everything. I think he needs to stay in the ring.”
The wrestling champion has reportedly been contemplating an MMA career after opting out of the 2024 Paris Olympics. According to UFC featherweight Muhammad Naimov, Sidakov has shown genuine interest in learning mixed martial arts with efforts underway to connect him with top management.
The potential move has already attracted attention from prominent figures in combat sports, including former two-division UFC champion and Olympic wrestling gold medalist Henry Cejudo, who has offered to help guide Sidakov through the transition process.
Should Sidakov decide to pursue MMA, he would likely compete around the welterweight division given his 74-kilogram wrestling background. This would place him in the footsteps of other Russian wrestling stars who have dominated the UFC, including Makhachev himself and the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov.
While no official matches are scheduled, the combat sports community continues to monitor Sidakov’s situation closely as his entry into MMA would represent another potential elite-level threat from the renowned Dagestani wrestling pipeline.
