Sep 7, 2019; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Islam Makhachev (red gloves) against Davi Ramos (not pictured) during UFC 242 at The Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

mma

MMA Analyst Shares Wild Story Of Islam Makhachev Dominating UFC Middleweight In Gym Session

Sep 7, 2019; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Islam Makhachev (red gloves) against Davi Ramos (not pictured) during UFC 242 at The Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

Training room stories in MMA often get exaggerated or dismissed as hype. Fighters and coaches love telling tales about how their guy destroys everyone in sparring. Most fans have learned to take these stories with a grain of salt because what happens in practice doesn’t always translate to fight night. But sometimes a story emerges that’s too specific and detailed to ignore, especially when it comes from a credible source.

Islam Makhachev is preparing for his welterweight title shot against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322. The former lightweight king is moving up 15 pounds to challenge for a second belt. Naturally, questions have emerged about whether his dominance will translate against bigger, stronger opponents. Can he manhandle welterweights the same way he’s controlled lightweights? Well, according to MMA journalist Luke Thomas, Islam Makhachev has been doing much more than just handling welterweights in training.

The Punahele Soriano Sparring Session

Luke Thomas dropped a bombshell revelation while appearing on Submission Radio recently. He shared a wild story about Islam Makhachev’s training sessions that should concern anyone betting against him at UFC 322. Apparently, Islam Makhachev dominated UFC middleweight Punahele Soriano (now flights at welterweight) during an extended gym session back during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Soriano was a full 185er at the time and he said Islam Makhachev just f**king murdered him for two hours, he couldn’t do anything to him. He’s like, I’m a 185er, I can’t do sh*t to this guy.”

Luke Thomas on Islam Makhachev training with middleweight Punahele Soriano 😳

“Soriano was a full 185er at the time and he said Islam Makhachev just f**king murdered him for two hours, he couldn’t do anything to him. He’s like, I’m a 185er, I can’t do shit to this guy.”💀🔥… pic.twitter.com/mJpJ5SU56S
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) November 9, 2025

That’s a stunning claim considering Soriano competes at middleweight, which is 30 pounds heavier than Islam’s usual lightweight home. Two hours of complete domination against a UFC middleweight isn’t just impressive. It’s borderline absurd when fans consider the size difference involved. Soriano isn’t some small middleweight either. He was a legitimate 185-pounder with knockout power and solid grappling credentials. For Islam to reportedly control him for an extended session speaks volumes about his actual strength and skill level.

What This Means For His Fight Against Jack Della Maddalena

These training stories matter because they provide context for what Makhachev (27-1) might be capable of at welterweight. Fans and analysts have worried about the size jump from 155 to 170 pounds. Will Jack Della Maddalena’s natural welterweight frame give him advantages that neutralize Islam’s grappling? The Soriano story suggests those concerns might be overblown.

If Islam can dominate a full-sized middleweight for two hours straight, handling a welterweight shouldn’t pose major problems. The strength gap that everyone assumes exists might not actually be there. Islam’s technique combined with legitimate physical power could make the weight difference irrelevant against JDM.

(Image Credit: Per Haljestam – Imagn Images)

Islam Makhachev

Jack Della Maddalena

Punahele Soriano

Zaid Quraishi

mma

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!