Islam Makhachev has provided fans with a look into his preparations for his highly-anticipated fight against Alexander Volkanovski. A native of Dagestan, Russia, Makhachev seemingly partook in a traditional Russian ‘banya’ bath. It includes a hot steam bath session, cooling oneself outdoors and/or dipping oneself in ice-cold water and rolling around in the snow.
The ‘banya’ is known to be a significant part of Russian culture. The term ‘banya’ implies a comprehensive bath experience and is also used to refer to public bathhouses in the Eurasian country. The temperatures in its steam room are generally more than 93 degrees Celsius (199 Fahrenheit).
As seen in a video posted on ESPN MMA’s Twitter account via Islam Makhachev’s Instagram handle, he’s sporting a hat while making his way out of the ‘banya’s’ steam room. The hat is usually made of wool/felt and helps safeguard the head and hair from heat and potential burns.
Watch the video tweeted by ESPN MMA below:
To further help generate heat and break a sweat in the steam room, a ‘banya’ user utilizes a ‘venik,’ a leafy bundle of birch, eucalyptus, juniper, oak, as well as other tree twigs. The ‘venik’ also helps heal wounds, scratches, joint pain and muscle pain.
The video features Islam Makhachev exiting the steam room and taking dips in ice-cold water in a nearby pool. Following that, the UFC lightweight kingpin lay down on the ground and covered himself in snow. Makhachev then made his way back into the steam room to break another sweat.
Watch Makhachev’s intense ‘banya’ session in the Instagram video below:
Islam Makhachev’s coach doesn’t see his star pupil finishing Alexander Volkanovski
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is scheduled to defend his title against UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284. Their super-fight will take place at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, on February 12, 2023. While the fight will transpire in Volkanovski’s native Australia, many view Makhachev as the favorite to win it.
In a recent interview with sports reporter Helen Yee, Makhachev’s coach Javier Mendez addressed the training his longtime student is undergoing in Dagestan, Russia. The veteran coach asserted that he expects Makhachev to win. However, he doesn’t see the Russian MMA stalwart finishing ‘Volk.’
Predicting that the fight will likely go the distance, Mendez stated:
“I expect that at the end of the day Islam Makhachev is going to be pound-for-pound the best fighter in the UFC or in the world. After he beats Alex, which I’m expecting him to do, but not like people are thinking, like any kind of finish. I don’t like that. It’s going to be a five-round war.”
Watch Mendez’s interview below: