Mochamed Machaev is a 20-year-old Austrian prospect currently competing in the featherweight division for Brave CF. Machaev comes from a kickboxing background, having won the WAKO junior world title in 2015. He is also a lifelong Kyokushin karate practitioner.
Strengths
Offensive Wrestling
Despite coming from a striking background, Machaev tends to utilise a lot of offensive wrestling in his fights. ‘The Beast’ usually goes for takedowns after using his striking to back his opponents to the cage before going for a double leg takedowns. He has also demonstrated some impressive slam takedowns in open space which often take him straight to side control.
Top Game
When Machaev is successful in taking his opponents down, he is able to show off his solid top game. His ground game is a bit of a throwback to old school wrestlers as he is more than happy to sit in his opponents’ guard and utilise ground and pound to soften them up. Due to his stocky physique, Machaev seems to be able to generate a decent amount of power from close range as well as keep a consistent pace. This style of ground and pound won’t put his opponents out cold but can overwhelm them as the fight goes on.
Offensive Striking
Coming from a kickboxing background, it’s no surprise that Machaev has some clean striking. At his best, Machaev likes to walk his opponents down and throw punches in combinations. Although he doesn’t possess one-punch knockout power, he is an accurate and efficient puncher with a solid jab. His striking style combines well with his willingness to grapple as it pushes his opponents to the fence and allows him to either unload a striking combination or shoot for a takedown.
Weaknesses
Takedown Defence
Although Machaev has shown some impressive offensive wrestling, we have also seen him struggle with opponents who were determined to take the fight to the ground. This was most evident in his fight against Jaroslav Pokorny who was able to secure several takedowns in the fight. You could also make an argument that Machaev is fortunate to be competing on the Central European regional scene where there isn’t a lot of high-level wrestlers. This will be an issue that Machaev will have to address if he wants to continue to progress as a fighter. However, it is important to remember that Machaev is still only 20 years old and does not come from a wrestling background. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect improvements in this department in the near future.
Giving Up The Back
Machaev is a competent and active scrambler, however, he has shown the propensity to give up his back when trying to get up from the bottom. This has allowed his opponents to take his back and put him in some dangerous positions. To Machaev’s credit, he remains composed and escapes those positions without too much trouble. However, this is something that needs to be addressed especially as he continues to face increasingly tough opposition.
Overall
Despite being only 20 years old, Mochamed Machaev has already amassed an impressive 10-0 record with wins over veterans and fellow top prospects alike. Machaev possesses a very functional game that is able to connect his striking and heavy top game well. Of course, he still has areas of his game that he needs to improve but that is only natural for a young fighter. I believe that Machaev is one of the best young prospects outside the UFC and that we will hear his name a lot in the future.