Islam Makhachev is the best lightweight in the world. The Dagestani accepts all octagon challenges, chokes out and knocks out his opponents, trains with Khabib Nurmagomedov, and develops his fighting skills. Islam has been into sports since childhood. His path to the UFC top was similar to ascent to Mount Everest full of terrible dangers. In this article, we will share the interesting facts of Islam Makhachev’s biography.
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Islam Makhachev's stats
| Nationality | Russian |
| Height | 178 |
| Weight | 70 |
| Record | 24-1 |
| KO/TKO wins | 4 |
| Submission wins | 11 |
| The last fight | February 11, 2023 |
| Winning streak | 12 |
Islam Makhachev was born on October 27, 1991, in Makhachkala, Russia. He has an elder brother, Kurbanismail. School No. 38, where Islam studied, had a taekwondo club, and the boy took up this sport in the first grade. His coach was four-time European Champion Seyfula Magomedov.
Then Islam went to a wushu sanda club for four years. The Nurmagomedov family, whom he met a bit later, lived not so far from Makhachev's gym. Islam practiced wushu sanda and played football with Khabib and Abubakar Nurmagomedov, Shamil Zavurov, and other children.
Then Mackhachev's family moved to a small Dagestani village — Novy Khushet. There were no sports clubs nearby. The children in Hushet considered the city kids weak, and Islam had to fight with them several times to prove otherwise.
According to Islam, he had to quit sports for some time due to transport problems. After a small break, he took up freestyle wrestling but stopped training for a year. Makhachev returned to sports because of Khabib. Islam saw the Eagle, Shamil Zavurov, and Rustam Khabilov participating in their first professional MMA bouts and was inspired by them.
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Makhachev found out that Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov had opened a gym and started training with him. Then Islam graduated from school and enrolled in the PE and sports department of the Dagestan State University. This is how he described his daily routine in those days.
I would get up at 6:00 am, run in the field, then eat, and go to the university by 9:00 am. My studies ended at 3:10 pm, while my training sessions began at 5:00 pm. I would go there from the university, grab a bun, and drink some water on my way. I would train from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm and then go to the station to catch the last bus. If I didn't catch it, I had to change several buses to get to Khushet by ten o'clock — almost through the whole city. I was extremely motivated at that time and had such a schedule for three years.
Islam Makhachev's Sports Career Before UFC
Islam's family supported him in everything. His father gave him money for camps and competitions because Islam couldn't pay the expenses when studying at university. But once Islam realized he should find a job and became a security guard to pay for his needs.
Islam practiced sambo and mastered his striking technique. On August 1, 2010, he had his professional pankration debut. He defeated Magomed Bekbolatov at Tsumada Fighting Championship 4 by unanimous decision. That fight was later considered his first professional MMA bout.
After 7 wins, Makhachev debuted in M-1 in 2013. He faced a serious opponent — Mansour Barnaoui, currently performing for Bellator. Islam beat the French by unanimous decision. His corners were Abdulmanap and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Makhachev won 4 M-1 bouts in 18 months and realized he should move further — to UFC.
I saw how Jon Jones became a champion at my age. I asked our manager, Ali (Ali Abdelaziz), to help me get into UFC. I wanted to try my hand at it. Once, I met Joe Silva in the corridor. We talked, and a few months later, I received a contract.
Islam Makhachev's First UFC Fights: a Loss to Martins and a Doping Scandal
Before his first bout in the best league in the world, Islam trained at the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA). Khabib and Javier Mendez helped him. On May 23, 2015, 24-year-old Makhachev debuted in UFC and choked out Leo Kuntz in the second round.
Makhachev believed in his striking skills so much that he decided to fight Adriano Martins in a standing position in October 2015. The Brazilian caught him with the right hook and knocked his lights out. That loss taught Islam a lot, and he became much more careful.
After the first defeat, Makhachev wanted to return to the octagon in April 2016, but his bout against Drew Dober was canceled. He tested positive for meldonium. Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov claimed that Islam took it until the end of 2015 due to heart problems. At that time, it was still allowed (meldonium was added to the list of banned substances on January 1, 2016).
USADA quickly investigated the situation, concluding that Makhachev used meldonium as a medication, not for performance enhancement. In July 2016, Islam was acquitted of all charges, and in September, he dealt with Chris Wade.
He Secretly Became a World Sambo Champion
After the first loss in his career, Makhachev didn't have fights for a long time, and he used this break creatively. UFC fighters sign exclusive contracts that forbid them to perform at any events, even at an amateur level. But the Russian fighter went against the system.
At first, Makhachev won the Russian combat sambo championship in Petrozavodsk and got to the 2016 world championship in Sofia.
After defeating Wade, Islam went to the championship and beat all his opponents. Another interesting fact: a day after the finals, Makhachev was Khabib Nurmagomedov's corner during his fight against Michael Johnson at UFC 205.
How Islam Makhachev Became UFC Champion
Makhachev's path to the title bout was extremely long. The Dagestani sambo wrestler defeated Nik Lentz, Gleison Tibau, and Kajan Johnson and demonstrated a spectacular grappling game in his fight against the league debutant Arman Tsarukyan.
Then, Islam fought against Davi Ramos on the same card as Khabib at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi in September 2019. The Eagle carried the banner of the Dagestani sport in the UAE while Makhachev waited in the wings. The two friends didn't let the fans down: Islam defeated Davi Ramos by a decision, and Khabib choked out Dustin Poirier.
In 2020, Makhachev was to encounter former UFC champion Rafael dos Anjos twice. But first, the Brazilian was removed from the bout because of coronavirus, and then the Dagestani caught an infection. Makhachev missed a year and a half, and many things have changed. Khabib ended his professional career, and Islam Makhachev was to become a new division leader.
Since 2021, Islam has choked out Thiago Moisés, almost torn off Dan Hooker's arm, and beaten the main Dagestani hater — Bobby Green. As a result, he got a chance to fight for a belt against Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi.
October 22, 2022, saw one of the most anticipated fights in lightweight history. The bout was short: Makhachev destroyed Oliveira. First, the Dagestani dropped his opponent and then finished him with an arm-triangle choke in the second round. This is how Islam became Dagestan's second lightweight UFC champion after Khabib. The Eagle was his corner and rejoiced at his success.
After the bout, Khabib and Islam challenged Alexander Volkanovski and said they would go to Australia to fight for the top spot in the P4P rankings. Islam kept his promise: in February, he fought against the Great at UFC 284 in Perth and won by unanimous decision, thus defending the belt from the powerful featherweight. However, that was the toughest bout in Makhachev's career.
Islam Makhachev's Achievements
- International Master of Sport in Combat Sambo;
- Combat Sambo Russian champion (2014, 2016);
- Combat Sambo World champion (2016);
- UFC Lightweight champion;
- The longest lightweight UFC winning streak (12)
Islam Makhachev's Personal Life
Like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam carefully hides his personal life. We know he married in April 2021, and all his sports friends attended the wedding.
Islam's hobbies include football, downhill skiing, and motocross. The Dagestani also enjoys riding horses and eating his Mom's delicious pies after winning a UFC bout.
A workaholic and overachiever, Islam Makhachev has ascended to the top of the strongest promotion in the world and become a real nightmare for his opponents. Makhachev just doesn't seem to have any serious lightweight opponents. That's why he plans to move to the welterweight division to get a second belt. With such a powerful team, Islam can do anything.
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