Cain Velasquez backs Islam Makhachev to extend historic UFC run

Cain
Velasquez has heaped praise on Islam
Makhachev.

Velasquez considers Makhachev an extraordinary athlete who has
reached the pinnacle of the sport. From conversations with his
coach, Javier Mendez, Velasquez knows that the
Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight king is a hard
worker in the gym.

Cain Velasquez explains why Islam Makhachev continues to
dominate under Javier Mendez

Having been honed into a champion himself by Mendez, Velasquez
knows that Makhachev is in good hands with the
American Kickboxing Academy coach. The Hall of Famer and former
UFC heavyweight champion believes the Dagestani will continue his
dominant title run.

“[Islam] is a special type of athlete,” Velasquez told Red Corner
MMA. “He’s one of the guys at the pinnacle of this sport. I talk
with Javier all the time, and Islam and those guys are always doing
great. They are in great hands. Javier is the one who builds
champions… I see Islam continuing to do what he’s been doing, and
that’s winning impressively. He’s somebody who has mastered all
aspects of MMA.”

Velasquez was the flagbearer for AKA before the likes of Daniel
Cormier, Luke
Rockhold and Khabib
Nurmagomedov won gold in the UFC. Makhachev is the latest to
bring a UFC championship to the gym.

Makhachev (28-1) is undefeated in 16 straight UFC outings since his
lone professional loss in 2015. He defended the UFC lightweight
title four times, the most in the division’s history, before moving
up to welterweight and dominantly dethroning Jack
Della Maddalena to win the 170-pound title.

Makhachev is now set to defend his welterweight title for the first
time against Ian Garry
(17-1) at UFC
330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Center in Philadelphia. A
successful title defense will see the Russian break the record for
the longest win streak in the history of the Octagon.