Islam Makhachev believes Anthony Joshua could thrive in MMA if he improves wrestling

Anthony Joshua stepping into mixed martial arts might sound far-fetched to many fight fans, but UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev believes the heavyweight boxing star has the physical tools to make a serious impact. During a recent appearance with ArenaFightTV, Makhachev shared his thoughts on how elite boxers could potentially transition to MMA, and Joshua’s name quickly came up in the discussion.

Makhachev praised Joshua’s size, athleticism, and striking pedigree, highlighting how dangerous the former unified heavyweight champion could be if he adapted his skillset beyond boxing. The Dagestani fighter, widely respected for his grappling dominance inside the Octagon, emphasized that striking alone is rarely enough at the highest level of MMA. However, he suggested that Joshua’s foundation gives him a unique starting point compared to most newcomers.

According to Makhachev, Joshua already possesses one of the biggest advantages an athlete could bring into the sport — world-class stand-up ability. “This guy is big, very good striker. One of the best boxers in the world,” Makhachev said, before adding that developing wrestling and grappling fundamentals could unlock an entirely new dimension for the British heavyweight.

Why Islam Makhachev thinks Anthony Joshua’s skillset could translate to MMA

The lightweight champion pointed out that heavyweight MMA has historically welcomed athletes from different combat backgrounds, including boxing and kickboxing. Fighters with knockout power often become immediate threats, and Joshua’s size combined with his disciplined training habits could theoretically shorten the learning curve.

Still, Makhachev made it clear that success would depend heavily on how well Joshua adapts to grappling. “If this big guy improves his wrestling, can you imagine how good he’s gonna be in MMA,” he said, highlighting the importance of takedown defense, clinch work, and ground control in modern mixed martial arts.

While there is no indication that Joshua plans to cross over into MMA anytime soon, conversations like this continue to spark debate among fans about crossover fights and multi-sport athletes. The rise of influencer boxing and cross-disciplinary bouts has already blurred the lines between combat sports, making hypothetical transitions feel more realistic than ever.

Joshua can be good MMA fighter – UFC champ Makhachev

UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev believes Anthony Joshua could become a good mixed martial arts fighter if the British-Nigerian boxing star trained in Dagestan, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Makhachev made the assertion after meeting Joshua at the recent PFL Dubai event, where the pair exchanged pleasantries and discussed the possibility of the former two-time world heavyweight champion trying his hand at MMA.

“He can become (a) good MMA fighter,” Makhachev posted on his Instagram story following their encounter.

The Russian champion, who was present alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov to watch Usman Nurmagomedov defend his lightweight PFL title with a submission victory over Alfie Davis, extended his iconic invitation to Joshua.

Makhachev asked Joshua to come to Dagestan for two or three years to train and become great in MMA, to which the boxer responded by suggesting he could visit the Russian republic for two or three weeks instead.

Joshua is currently taking time away from the ring following the tragic deaths of two of his close friends in Nigeria.

The British star had beaten Jake Paul in a Netflix special before visiting the African country, where he was involved in a fatal car crash that left him hospitalised for a period before being released.

Whilst Joshua is unlikely to ever participate in an MMA fight given his successful boxing career, he could be back in action against another great of the sport soon.

According to reports from BoxingScene, Dana White and Zuffa Boxing are planning to arrange a fight between Joshua and Tyson Fury. Joshua recently defeated Jake Paul before losing two of his closest friends in the car crash.