Islam Makhachev is preparing for his chance to become a two-division champion in a looming matchup against welterweight titleholder Jack Della Maddalena, and a former AKA-based fighter has weighed in on this pursuit from AKA product, Makhachev.
Andrew Sanchez has worked at some of the best MMA gyms in the world, including a prior history of working out of American Kickboxing Academy, which is where Islam Makachev fights out of. Sanchez appeared on Bowks Talking Bouts ahead of his fight with former PFL champion Impa Kasanganay on August 21st in the PFL smart cage.
When referencing the Makhachev welterweight title bid coming up against Della Maddalena in the context of what his thoughts on this looming contest are, Andrew Sanchez said,
“I trained at AKA. I trained around the Russians, but they’re very kind of like; they have their own group, their own clique. I wasn’t really in with them in that way. I mean, I think he’s [Islam Makhachev’s] an incredible fighter. Yeah, incredible wrestler. I couldn’t imagine [Jack Della] Maddalena stopping his offensive wrestling to be honest.”