SAMBO Ambassador Islam Makhachev Visits “Try SAMBO” Event in Philadelphia

More than 250 combat sports enthusiasts gathered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA), on August 10 for the “Try SAMBO” event. The special guest of the gathering was SAMBO Ambassador Islam Makhachev.

The event was organized to promote SAMBO among American audiences and brought together combat sports fans of all skill levels. Participants had the opportunity to learn basic SAMBO techniques hands-on under the guidance of leading US coaches, and after the masterclass, they got the chance to meet the sports legend and take commemorative photos.

A Meeting That Became Personal

For Islam Makhachev himself, the visit to Philadelphia carried a personal story as well. Among those present was Johnson Zhazhut, a member of the US SAMBO national team competing in the under-74kg weight category. The two athletes had crossed paths before, at the 2016 World SAMBO Championships in Sofia, where Islam became world champion while Johnson was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to injury, missing his chance to compete for a medal in the final.

Years later, fate brought them together again – this time in a far more informal setting, among American SAMBO enthusiasts. Islam recognized his former opponent immediately and greeted him warmly, and the reunion ended with a joint photo, an idea Makhachev himself suggested.

Recognition and a Gift from Young Athletes

During the event, Islam Makhachev was presented with a medal for the US SAMBO Championships. The award was given to the SAMBO Ambassador by Mikhail Kozitsky, Vice President of the national federation USA SAMBO Inc.

Another touching moment came courtesy of the young athletes from the Yawara Force club, who surprised the legend with a personalized Philadelphia Eagles jersey – the city's National Football League (NFL) team.

“I believe Islam's most important mission extends far beyond championship titles, belts, and victories. It's how he inspires a new generation. How he inspires young athletes, and especially children, to believe in themselves, to dream, and simply to be happy to be around their idol. This is perhaps one of the greatest contributions a true champion can make to the development of our sport. Meetings like this help grow interest in SAMBO across the United States and strengthen the ties between the American combat sports community and the global SAMBO movement,” Mikhail Kozitsky said in closing.