Feb 12, 2023; Perth, WA, AUSTRALIA; Islam Makhachev (red gloves) celebrates after defeating Alexander Volkanovski (not pictured) for the lightweight championship during UFC 284 at RAC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports

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Islam Makhachev Questions Fake Jiu-Jitsu Black Belts Again, Lauds This Fighter As Real BJJ Black Belt

Islam Makhachev once again calls out fraudulent BJJ black belts in the UFC and praising one fighter for truly earning the honor!

Getting a black belt in martial arts used to mean something really special back in the day. From the old kung fu movies to the first UFC events, that black piece of cloth around someone’s waist meant years of hard work and dedication. Everyone respected what it stood for: Countless hours on the mats, learning moves and proving yourself in real competitions.

Islam Makhachev comes from Dagestan, where they don’t hand out belts like candy. In his world, fighters earn their stripes through blood, sweat, and maybe a few tears.

Now, as the UFC lightweight champion, Makhachev isn’t afraid to call things as he sees them. He’s puzzled by how some fighters get their black belts these days. He believes that it is like getting a participation trophy.

When he talked to Demetrious Johnson recently, he couldn’t help but notice how some supposed black belts seem terrified to grapple with certain opponents. Islam Makhachev believes that a fighter needs at least five or six years of serious training, plus some real competition experience, before they can call themselves a black belt.

“Why are you scared to go with him on the ground? You’re a black belt [talking about Dustin Poirier refusing to go to the ground with Charles Oliveira]. But now, it’s a big deal to give some fighters a black belt. No, it’s not. It shouldn’t work like this, you know. I think people agree with me. If you’re a UFC champion, you cannot be a black belt in one day. No, it’s not working like that.”

The funny thing is Islam Makhachev doesn’t even have a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt himself. But when he submitted Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier, both respected black belts, it wasn’t about the color of their belts. It was about who had put in the real work.

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Islam Makhachev Lauds This Fighter As The Real Black Belt

While many champions hang up their gloves after retiring, Demetrious Johnson keeps rolling on the mats. His journey through mixed martial arts has been incredible, but what really sets him apart is his dedication to pure jiu-jitsu.

Even after achieving everything in MMA, including becoming one of the greatest champions ever, Johnson still competes in grappling tournaments. That’s the kind of commitment that makes Islam Makhachev nod in approval.

Speaking with DJ on his YT channel, Islam Makhachev pointed to him as the perfect example of what a real black belt should be. For the UFC lightweight champion, who recently criticized the ease of getting black belts, Johnson represents someone who is a perfect example of what makes a true black belt.

“You are the real black belt. Of course. 100%.”

Demetrious Johnson is out there proving he deserves his black belt every time he steps on the competition mats. And in Islam Makhachev’s books, that is what a true holder of the esteemed black belt should look like.

(Image Credit: Jasmin Frank – Imagn Images)

Charles Oliveira

Demetrious Johnson

Dustin Poirier

Islam Makhachev

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!