Islam Makhachev Tells Jordan Burroughs to Meet Him in the Cage
Islam Makhachev answered Jordan Burroughs on Saturday with a short message that left no doubt about the rules he prefers.
After the Olympic gold medalist called him out on a wrestling mat in Moscow, the UFC welterweight champion replied on social media, “Congrats on your win, legend. In the cage, anywhere, anytime.”
The exchange followed Burroughs’ win at RAF Moscow, a Real American Freestyle card at Arena Mytishchi.
The 38-year-old American tech-falled Magomed Kurbanaliev 10-0, then used the microphone to ask for Makhachev.
Asked by Chael Sonnen who he wanted next, Burroughs said, “Islam! Where are you? Hey, I came to your country, to your capital city, and tech fall one of your world champions. I’ll be back to Russia very soon, and the only person I want to share the stage with is Islam. I’ll be back.”
That was not a one-off. Burroughs has been chasing this matchup since he signed with RAF in June, when he named Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan as the names he wanted most.
He later beat UFC welterweight contender Sean Brady by technical fall at RAF 12 in Cleveland. Saturday’s trip to Russia was the next step in that campaign.
In a separate interview with Red Corner MMA, Burroughs framed the challenge as a test of wrestling, not mixed martial arts.
“I’d like to see him for myself. I would love to wrestle Islam. You know, I think one of the elements of mixed martial arts is that it is a mix of a bunch of different combat sports. And the unique thing about wrestling is its mastery in a single avenue. And, you know, I would love the opportunity to share the mat with him,” he said.
He was careful not to dismiss Makhachev’s career. He also made a pointed claim about the champion’s competition.
“I respect his accomplishments, his achievements, and everything that he’s done. I’m not trying to belittle who he is. He’s one of the greatest athletes on the planet. He’s a great champion. He operates with honor, and he’s a phenomenal fighter. But if you grow up in Russia, you gotta know how to wrestle, right? And I believe he does, and he brags about his wrestling skills in the cage, but he’s never really fought a real wrestler. And so I want to put him to the test, see what he’s got,” Burroughs added.
That last line is Burroughs’ opinion, not a settled fact about Makhachev’s résumé.
The Dagestani has used wrestling as a core weapon through two UFC title reigns, including a first welterweight defense against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 on Aug. 15.
Makhachev won that fight by unanimous decision, moved to 29-1, and broke Anderson Silva’s record with a 17-fight UFC winning streak. He remains the promotion’s pound-for-pound No. 1.
The gap between the two men is the sport each wants to play.
Burroughs has already said he would wrestle Makhachev, Khamzat Chimaev, and Tsarukyan, but would not want to fight them in MMA. Makhachev’s reply on Saturday stayed inside that same split.
He congratulated Burroughs, then invited him into the Octagon. He did not agree to a freestyle match.
That matters because neither man is offering the other’s preferred setting. A RAF bout would put Makhachev in Burroughs’ domain. An MMA fight would put a specialist who has never competed in the UFC into Makhachev’s.
Nothing is booked on either side. RAF has not announced a Makhachev appearance, and the UFC has not scheduled the champion’s next title defense.
Makhachev said after UFC 330 that he wants to fight again before Ramadan, and he named Carlos Prates as the most deserving welterweight if the question was who had earned a shot.
Burroughs, meanwhile, said he will return to Russia and that Makhachev is the only person he wants on the stage with him.
Until one of them crosses into the other’s ruleset, Saturday’s exchange is a public standoff, not a fight announcement. The next move belongs to whoever is willing to leave home turf.