First Things First
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There’s a 26 year old Chechen man who is terrorizing European MMA. He’s 11-0 with only a single decision and 9 submissions on his record. His name is Adam Masaev and he’s one of the most fun prospects we have.
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Now let’s get into it.
What's In Today's Letter?
Who Is Adam Masaev?
Adam Masaev Shamsudinovich was born on February 21, 2000. He grew up in Grozny, the capital of Chechnya. Masaev settled into martial arts like many boys born in the Caucaus mountains. Unlike many of his contemporaries, that was after he was done studying traditional Caucus dancing.
Masaev practiced judo, kudo, boxing, wrestling, before settling into submission grappling to for MMA. Then he joined Berkut Fight Club to propel his career a year before his first professional fight at 19.
Masaev cut his teeth in ACA’s (Absolute Championship Akhmat) feeder organization Young Eagles. There he racked up 9 wins in 4 years while emphasizing the “art” in MMA.
Masaev is in side control. Instead of getting a cross face he reaches over Ramazon’s head with his right arm. Then he slides his right knee under Ramazon’s head to grab his own thigh. Masaev falls to his back and locks his legs to set the buggy choke. Ramazon would submit after about 30 seconds of squeezing.
Adam Masaev - Ramazon Khafizzoda
I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen a buggy choke in MMA. This is the only one I’ve ever seen set up from top position.
Many Caucus fighters saw highlights like this and started reaching out to train with Masaev. That was his cue to leave.
Masaev’s Berkut Fight Club is not the biggest club in the region. It’s certainly not the most infamous. That distinction belongs to Chechen war lord Ramzan Kadyrov’s Akhmat Fight Club, directly affiliated with the ACA promotion.
Kadyrov has been using his MMA brand to recruit security and soldiers to fight for him for years. It’s not clear how much of a choice these men have to make. Masaev left Chechnya for France to avoid saying no to his region’s dictatorial war lord.
Masaev sold his possessions to fly to Bosnia and Herzegovina by way of Turkey. Then he took a taxi to Croatia, a bus to Budapest, and finally flew into Toulouse, France where he fights from today.
Today Masaev is 11-0. He’s been to one decision, I’ve hardly see him break a sweat, and he’s on the verge of fighting for KSW’s 170lb title.
Like Masaev said, “He who risks nothing, drinks no champagne."
Takedown Defense
Adam Masaev does his best work on the floor and he prioritizes getting on top. But it’s not like people don’t shoot on him. Some of them even get to his hips! They never really get anywhere good once they do though.
Shamil shoots on Masaev. He gets Masaev down to his hands and knees. Masaev stays in the scramble with a whizzer. Then he sticks his leg between Shamil’s and uchi matas him to his back. Shamil starts to try to play guard. Masaev hops into headquarters with his right knee up the middle to start knee slicing.
Adam Masaev - Shamil Mutalimov
Masaev fights with urgency. He doesn’t just want to get to his spots, he wants to finish his fights quickly. He’s only been past the three minute mark three times in his career.
Aliev nearly falls over himself swinging punches. That turns into a double leg. Masaev gets to a front head lock, sprawls, and comes back up with a high elbow guillotine. He wrenches it twice to tighten the chokehold and get Aliev to the floor. Then Aliev submits.
Adam Masaev - Magomed Aliev
What really makes Masaev stand out is his flashy submissions. He has made it clear that he wants to make as much money as he can before it’s too late. So he’s doing his part by attacking unique submissions so he can stand out.
Janybek shoots a head outside single. Masaev reaches over his back like he’s reaching for a kimura. Then he sits down, inserts his left hook, and locks a figure four with his legs. He briefly looks at coming up to take the back. Then he rolls towards Janybek’s feet to grab a calf slicer.
Adam Masaev - Janybek Jansariev
I know I know, “That guy is a can. This submission would never work in the UFC”.
That’s not the point.
Any prospect can reverse takedowns and grab guillotines but how many are rolling into leg locks? How many are even trying?
That’s why I’m so high on Masaev. He’s acing the easy tests with artistic flair.
Brutal Back Control
Adam Masaev has a couple of rear naked chokes on his record and a dominant back control game overall. But I’m most impressed with how he strikes and moves while on the back.
Masaev has a rear body lock. He makes space to knee Mrizoev’s ribs. Then he mat returns Mirzoev onto his head. Masaev throws a few punches before getting another body lock to knee Mirzoev under his elbow again. Masaev gets a body triangle and closes a rear naked choke as Mirzoev tries to turn. Then he finishes the fight facedown.
Azam Mirzoev - Adam Masaev
Not the most complicated maneuver but you really don’t see many people pull their opponents to their butt to find room to knee the ribs. Most fighters are content to knee the thighs.
Masaev will also stand over his opponent instead of keeping hooks in to ride. This helps him move while hitting so he can maintain control and generate more power.
Masaev has back mount. Maciej is squirming around to shake Masaev off. Masaev responds by posturing up and putting his feet on the mat. Now he can move with Maciej while hitting him until he has room to slip in a choke, extend his hips, and get his finish.
Adam Masaev - Maciej Kazieczko
The first thing about Masaev that caught my eye were his triangles so that’s where I want to end today.
Triangles On Top And Bottom
When Masaev mounts an opponent he will look for wrist grips so they can’t push on his hips and he can slide his legs to a mounted triangle.
Masaev is in full mount. Shamil is sitting up and trying to push Masaev away. Masaev slides his left shin over Shamil’s arm. Then he starts punching. Shamil goes to his back. Masaev pushes his arm down to close a mounted triangle. Masaev starts hitting Shamil again until he can grab Shamil’s leg to cinch the submission.
Adam Masaev - Shamil Mutalimov
The quirkiest part of this Caucasian grappler’s game is his willingness to roll to the bottom to actually finish his submissions.
Masaev is on Harutyun’s back when he slides up high to collect Harutyun’s arm and fall onto an arm bar. Harutyun slips out of it. Masaev grabs Harutyun’s other arm and spazzes his legs to the sky until he can lock a triangle. Masaev scoops Harutyun’s leg to cut the angle and knock Harutyun onto his butt. After a few seconds Harutyun passes out.
Adam Masaev - Harutyun Baghdasaryan
Seeing fighters like Masaev emerge can only be a positive for grappling fans.
Sure Masaev could wrestle, ground and pound, and find the occasional face cranking submission. But he is electing to go for the high risk, high reward finishes that first captured the attention of an entire sport. He’s getting buggy chokes, leg locks, and weird triangles to make people say, “What the fuck was that?”
Masaev is making submission grappling look like magic again and I can’t wait to see more of him.
More To Study
You can watch Adam Masaev’s first fight in KSW here.
Here is how to do a buggy choke from top like Masaev.
Learn more about the buggy choke from one of the best buggy chokers in the sport here.
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UFC BJJ will continue to put select matches on YouTube. You can watch the first two matches from UFC BJJ 12 here.
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