Jorge Masvidal believes former Bellator champ is a 'nightmare' for Islam Makhachev

Jorge Masvidal believes Yaroslav Amosov poses a stylistic nightmare for UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, praising the former Bellator titleholder's skill set and physical advantages in a potential matchup. Speaking on the "Deep Waters" show, Masvidal argued that the Ukrainian is a difficult fight for every ranked welterweight, not just the reigning champion.

Amosov (30-1) has made an immediate impression since joining the UFC, securing submission wins over Neil Magny and Joel Alvarez in his first two Octagon appearances. Masvidal, who trains at American Top Team alongside Amosov, detailed the physical and technical tools that would trouble Makhachev. "Bigger, longer, and probably stronger," Masvidal said, highlighting Amosov's size and strength advantages. He also emphasized Amosov's sambo pedigree—claiming the Ukrainian is a two-time world champion in the discipline—which would give him comfort in the clinch exchanges and body lock work that form the backbone of Makhachev's wrestling.

Dustin Poirier, another American Top Team fighter who has trained with Amosov, has similarly flagged him as a challenging matchup for the current welterweight king. Masvidal's assessment suggests that while Amosov is still relatively new to the UFC, his combination of size, wrestling credentials, and submission skills could be problematic for even the division's elite competitors.