Cain Velasquez backs Islam Makhachev to extend UFC win streak

Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez expects Islam Makhachev to keep rolling through the welterweight division.

Velasquez praised the two-division champion as an elite talent who has reached the top of the sport. Speaking with Red Corner MMA, the Hall of Famer credited his longtime coach Javier Mendez for developing Makhachev into a complete fighter at American Kickboxing Academy. Velasquez said Mendez keeps him updated on the Dagestani's work ethic in training.

Velasquez on Makhachev's record-breaking UFC 330 title defense

"[Islam] is a special type of athlete," Velasquez told the outlet. "He's one of the guys at the pinnacle of this sport. I talk with Javier all the time, and Islam and those guys are always doing great. They are in great hands. Javier is the one who builds champions… I see Islam continuing to do what he's been doing, and that's winning impressively. He's somebody who has mastered all aspects of MMA."

Makhachev holds a 28-1 record and has not lost since 2015, running his UFC streak to 16 straight wins. The Russian defended the lightweight title four times before moving up to welterweight and stopping Jack Della Maddalena to claim the 170-pound belt. He defends that strap against Ian Garry at UFC 330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Center in Philadelphia.

A win over Garry would give Makhachev the longest winning streak in UFC history, surpassing the current record. Velasquez was AKA's first UFC champion before the gym produced titleholders including Daniel Cormier, Luke Rockhold and Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Photo: The Doppelganger (talk) (Adam Etheridge) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Original reporting:

• sherdog.com — Cain Velasquez backs Islam Makhachev to extend historic UFC run