# Islam Makhachev

Islam Ramazanovich Makhachev (Russian: Ислам Рамазанович Махачев; born 27 October 1991) is a Russian professional mixed martial artist and former sambo competitor. He currently competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the current UFC Lightweight Champion. A professional since 2010, along with becoming a combat sambo world champion in 2016 and two-time Russian national champion at 74 kg (2014, 2016). As of 7 November 2023, he is #1 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings.

## Background

An ethnic Lak, Makhachev was born in Makhachkala and grew up in the remote village of Burshi (then part of Dagestan ASSR, Soviet Union, now part of the Republic of Dagestan, Russia). Makhachev's father grew tomatoes and worked as a driver; his mother was a housewife and ran a small cafe. He has an older brother named Kurbanismail. Starting at age seven, he began practicing taekwondo under decorated champion Seyfula Magomedov. Makhachev switched to sanda while attending school with Abubakar Nurmagomedov, where he also met Khabib Nurmagomedov, Shamil Zavurov, and their family. However, he gave up combat sports and played soccer for two years after his family moved to a different town.
Makhachev engaged in constant street fights as a child due to the culture of the region, where it is common for adults (such as his coach Magomedov) to pick boys to face each other or for the boys to confront each other. He trained in freestyle wrestling for a year but switched to mixed martial arts under Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov after learning that Khabib was already a professional. Makhachev had been a UFC fan since childhood; his favorite fighters were Tank Abbott and Ken Shamrock. While training, he attended Dagestan State University to study physical education and sports. In order to support himself, Makhachev worked as a security guard. His boss allowed him to train during work hours and paid his salary while Makhachev was away for competitions and training camps.
In February 2014, Makhachev won the -74 kg division at the Russian National Combat Sambo Championship, qualifying for the world championship in Japan. He was unable to compete at the 2014 world championships due to the discovery of a heart condition that required treatment. Makhachev won the -74 kg division again at the 2016 national championship, qualifying for the world championship. He then won gold at the 2016 World Combat Sambo Championship. In the finals, Makhachev beat Valentin Benishev of Bulgaria (7-0).

## Mixed martial arts career
### M-1 Global

Makhachev made his M-1 Global debut against Tengiz Khuchua on 12 February 2011 and won the fight via KO in the first round.
In his second fight for the promotion, Makhachev faced Mansour Barnaoui, on 9 April 2013 at M-1 Challenge 38. He won via unanimous decision a (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).
Makhachev faced then-undefeated Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Rander Junio on 21 August 2013 at M-1 Challenge 41. He won via unanimous decision.
Makhachev faced M-1 Global Yuri Ivlev on 7 June 2014 at M-1 Challenge 49. Islam dominated the fight, he softened up Ivlev with punches before finishing the fight by submission via armbar.
On 7 September 2014, in his final bout for M-1 Global before signing with the UFC, Makhachev defeated Ivica Truscek via submission in the third round.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

On 2 October 2014, Makhachev signed a four-fight contract with the UFC. He submitted Leo Kuntz in the second round on 23 May 2015, at UFC 187.
Makhachev faced Adriano Martins on 3 October 2015 at UFC 192. He lost via knockout in the first round, marking his first and only professional loss to date.
Makhachev was expected to face Drew Dober on 16 April 2016, at UFC on Fox 19. After the weigh-ins, the UFC announced that the bout was cancelled after Makhachev failed an out-of-competition drug screening, testing positive for the banned anti-ischemic meldonium. USADA lifted Makhachev's suspension after a hearing on 2 July 2016 determined that the drug was prescribed in November 2015 to recover from a medical procedure to his heart.
On 17 September 2016, he faced with Chris Wade at UFC Fight Night 94. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Makhachev faced Nik Lentz on 11 February 2017, at UFC 208. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Makhachev was expected to face Michel Prazeres on 2 September 2017 at UFC Fight Night 115. However, Makhachev pulled out of the fight in the beginning of August citing a religious reason, and he was replaced by Mads Burnell.
Makhachev fought Gleison Tibau on 20 January 2018 at UFC 220. He won the fight by knockout in 57 seconds in the first round.
Makhachev faced Kajan Johnson on 28 July 2018 at UFC on Fox 30. Makhachev took Johnson down in the first round, where he worked to mount and secured the armbar, forcing Johnson to tap; giving Makhachev a submission victory.
Makhachev was expected to face Francisco Trinaldo on 26 January 2019 at UFC 233. However, it was reported on 11 November 2018 Makhachev was pulled out from the event due to undisclosed reason and he was replaced by Alexander Hernandez.
Makhachev faced Arman Tsarukyan on 20 April 2019 at UFC Fight Night 149. He won the fight via unanimous decision. This win earned him the Fight of the Night award.
Makhachev faced Davi Ramos on 7 September 2019 at UFC 242. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Makhachev was scheduled to face Alexander Hernandez on 18 April 2020 at UFC 249. However, Makhachev was removed from the card due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic and he was replaced by Omar Morales.
Makhachev was expected to face Rafael dos Anjos on 24 October 2020 at UFC 254. However, on 8 October 2020 it was reported that dos Anjos tested positive for COVID-19 and he was removed from the bout. The pairing was left intact and rescheduled for 14 November 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos. However, on 8 November, it was reported that Makhachev was forced to pull from the event due to staph infection.
Makhachev faced Drew Dober on 6 March 2021 at UFC 259. He won the fight by an arm-triangle choke submission in the third round.
Makhachev faced Thiago Moisés on 17 July 2021 at UFC on ESPN 26. He won the fight by a rear-naked choke submission in the fourth round.
A bout with former UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael dos Anjos was rescheduled and was expected to take place on 30 October 2021 at UFC 267. However, dos Anjos was forced to pulled from the event due to injury, and he was replaced by Dan Hooker. He won the fight by a kimura submission in the first round.
Makhachev was scheduled to face Beneil Dariush on 26 February 2022 at UFC Fight Night 202. However, on 12 February 2022 it was reported that Dariush withdrew from the event due to an ankle injury and he was replaced by Bobby Green. He won the bout via ground and pound TKO in the first round. After winning the fight, he also expressed his intentions to move up to welterweight and start his quest to become a two-division champion.

### UFC Lightweight Champion
#### Oliveira vs. Makhachev

Makhachev faced Charles Oliveira for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 280 on 22 October 2022. Makhachev won the bout and the title in the second round via arm-triangle choke after knocking down Oliveira with a punch. With this win, he received the Performance of the Night bonus.
In November 2022, Makhachev was awarded Order "For Merit to the Republic of Dagestan" for his achievement in martial arts.

#### Makhachev vs. Volkanovski

Makhachev defended his title against the UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski on 12 February 2023 at UFC 284. Makhachev won via unanimous decision. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award. After his victory, Makhachev and his coach Muslim Amiraslanov were both awarded the Sali Suleiman medal, the Dagestan Ministry of Sports' highest award, named after a famous wrestler.

#### Makhachev vs. Volkanovski II

Makhachev was scheduled to make his second title defense in a rematch against Charles Oliveira on 21 October 2023, at UFC 294. However, Oliveira was forced off from the event due to injuries and he was replaced by Alexander Volkanovski. He won the fight by head kick knockout in the first round. This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.

#### Makhachev vs. Poirier

Makhachev faced former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 on 1 June 2024. He won by a D’Arce choke submission at 2:42 of the fifth round. This fight earned him both the Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night awards totaling $100,000.

#### Makhachev vs. Moicano

Makhachev made his next title defense against Renato Moicano on 18 January 2025 at UFC 311. Makhachev was originally slated to defend the belt in a rematch against Arman Tsarukyan, but one day before the event, a back injury suffered by Tsarukyan forced him to withdraw from the bout; Moicano was originally scheduled to face Beneil Dariush at the event. He won the fight via a brabo choke submission in the first round.

## Personal life

As of January 2025, Makhachev is married and has three children, the oldest being a girl, and two boys.

## Championships and accomplishments

* Republic of Dagestan
** Order "For Merit to the Republic of Dagestan"
** Sali Suleiman medal, Ministry of Physical Fitness and Sports of the Republic of Dagestan

### Mixed martial arts

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** UFC Lightweight Championship (One time, current)
*** Four successful title defenses
**** Most UFC lightweight title wins (5)
**** Most consecutive UFC lightweight title defenses (4)
**** Most total UFC lightweight title defenses (4)
**** Tied (B.J. Penn) for most finishes in UFC Lightweight title fights (4)
**** Tied (Khabib Nurmagomedov) for most submissions in UFC Lightweight title fights (3)
** Fight of the Night (Three times) vs. Arman Tsarukyan, Alexander Volkanovski 1 and Dustin Poirier
** Performance of the Night (Three times) vs. Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski 2 and Dustin Poirier
** Tied (Kamaru Usman) for the second longest win streak in UFC history (15)
*** Longest win streak in UFC Lightweight division history (14)
** Fifth fewest significant strikes absorbed per minute in UFC Lightweight division history (1.53)
** Highest significant strike accuracy in UFC Lightweight division history (59.5%)
** Second highest takedown defense percentage in UFC Lightweight division history (90.9%)
** Second highest win percentage in UFC history (94.1% - 16 wins / 1 loss)
** Third most submissions in UFC Lightweight division history (8)
** Third highest takedown defense percentage in UFC Lightweight division history (90.9%)
** Fourth most top position time in UFC Lightweight division history (1:08:42)
** UFC Men's Pound-For-Pound No. 1 in 2023, 2024 & 2025
** UFC Honors Awards
*** 2022: Fan's Choice Submission of the Year Winner vs. Charles Oliveira
*** 2023: President's Choice Fight of the Year Winner vs. Alexander Volkanovski 1 & Fan's Choice Knockout of the Year Nominee vs. Alexander Volkanovski 2
*** 2024: Fan's Choice Submission of the Year Winner vs. Dustin Poirier
** UFC.com Awards
*** 2021: Ranked #5 Fighter of the Year & Ranked #7 Submission of the Year vs. Drew Dober
*** 2022: Ranked #3 Fighter of the Year & Ranked #4 Submission of the Year vs. Charles Oliveira
*** 2023: Fighter of the Year, Fight of the Year vs. Alexander Volkanovski 1 & Ranked #4 Knockout of the Year vs. Alexander Volkanovski 2
*** 2024: Half-Year Awards: Best Fight of the 1HY, Ranked #3 Submission of the Year & Ranked #4 Fight of the Year vs. Dustin Poirier
* MMAjunkie.com
** 2021 March Submission of the Month vs. Drew Dober
** 2021 October Submission of the Month vs. Dan Hooker
** 2022 October Submission of the Month vs. Charles Oliveira
** 2022 Submission of the year vs. Charles Oliveira
* Sherdog
** 2023 Fighter of the Year
** 2023 Fight of the Year vs. Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284
* World MMA Awards
** 2023 Fight of the Year vs. Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284
* Wrestling Observer Newsletter
** Most Outstanding Fighter of the Year (2023)
** 2023 MMA Match of the Year vs. Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284

### Sambo

* Fédération Internationale Amateur de Sambo (FIAS)
** 2016 FIAS World Combat Sambo Championships Gold Medalist
* Combat Sambo Federation of Russia
** Russian National Gold Medalist (2014, 2016 at -74 kg)

### Grappling

* UWW Russian Grappling Federation
** North Caucasian Federal District Gold Medalist

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 28 matches | 27 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 5 | 1 |
| By submission | 13 | 0 |
| By decision | 9 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 27–1 | Renato Moicano | Submission (brabo choke) | UFC 311 | 18 January 2025 | 1 | 4:05 | Inglewood, California, United States | Defended the UFC Lightweight Championship. Broke the record for the most consecutive UFC Lightweight title defenses (4). |
| Win | 26–1 | Dustin Poirier | Submission (brabo choke) | UFC 302 | 1 June 2024 | 5 | 2:42 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | Defended the UFC Lightweight Championship. Performance of the Night. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 25–1 | Alexander Volkanovski | KO (head kick and punches) | UFC 294 | 21 October 2023 | 1 | 3:06 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Defended the UFC Lightweight Championship. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 24–1 | Alexander Volkanovski | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 284 | 12 February 2023 | 5 | 5:00 | Perth, Australia | Defended the UFC Lightweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 23–1 | Charles Oliveira | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC 280 | 22 October 2022 | 2 | 3:16 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Won the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 22–1 | Bobby Green | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs. Green | 26 February 2022 | 1 | 3:23 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (160 lb) bout. |
| Win | 21–1 | Dan Hooker | Submission (kimura) | UFC 267 | 30 October 2021 | 1 | 2:25 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 20–1 | Thiago Moisés | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on ESPN: Makhachev vs. Moisés | 17 July 2021 | 4 | 2:38 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 19–1 | Drew Dober | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC 259 | 6 March 2021 | 3 | 1:37 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 18–1 | Davi Ramos | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 242 | 7 September 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 17–1 | Arman Tsarukyan | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Oleinik | 20 April 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 16–1 | Kajan Johnson | Submission (armbar) | UFC on Fox: Alvarez vs. Poirier 2 | 28 July 2018 | 1 | 4:43 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | |
| Win | 15–1 | Gleison Tibau | KO (punch) | UFC 220 | 20 January 2018 | 1 | 0:57 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | |
| Win | 14–1 | Nik Lentz | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 208 | 11 February 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Brooklyn, New York, United States | |
| Win | 13–1 | Chris Wade | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Poirier vs. Johnson | 17 September 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Hidalgo, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 12–1 | Adriano Martins | KO (punch) | UFC 192 | 3 October 2015 | 1 | 1:46 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 12–0 | Leo Kuntz | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 187 | 23 May 2015 | 2 | 2:38 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 11–0 | Ivica Trušček | Submission (inverted triangle choke) | M-1 Challenge 51 | 7 September 2014 | 3 | 4:45 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | Catchweight (165 lb) bout. |
| Win | 10–0 | Yuri Ivlev | Submission (armbar) | M-1 Challenge 49 | 7 June 2014 | 1 | 1:49 | Ingushetia, Russia | |
| Win | 9–0 | Rander Junio | Decision (unanimous) | M-1 Challenge 41 | 21 August 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 8–0 | Mansour Barnaoui | Decision (unanimous) | M-1 Challenge 38 | 9 April 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 7–0 | Anatoly Kormilkin | Submission (inverted triangle choke) | Lion's Fights 2 | 2 September 2012 | 1 | 3:17 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 6–0 | Migel Grigoryan | Submission (triangle choke) | Siberian FC 1 | 15 December 2011 | 1 | 4:25 | Tomsk, Russia | |
| Win | 5–0 | Vladimir Egoyan | Decision (split) | ProFC 29: Union Nation Cup Final | 2 July 2011 | 2 | 5:00 | Rostov-on-Don, Russia | |
| Win | 4–0 | Magomed Ibragimov | Submission (triangle choke) | Tsumada FC 5 | 1 July 2011 | 2 | 3:15 | Tsumadinsky, Russia | |
| Win | 3–0 | Martiros Grigoryan | TKO (punches) | ProFC 28: Union Nation Cup 15 | 6 May 2011 | 1 | 2:52 | Simferopol, Ukraine | |
| Win | 2–0 | Tengiz Khuchua | KO (punch) | M-1 Selection Ukraine 2010: The Finals | 12 February 2011 | 1 | 0:30 | Kyiv, Ukraine | |
| Win | 1–0 | Magomed Bekbolatov | Decision (unanimous) | Tsumada FC 4 | 1 August 2010 | 2 | 5:00 | Tsumadinsky, Russia | Lightweight debut. |

## Pay-per-view bouts

| No. | Event | Fight | Date | Venue | City | PPV buys |
| 1. | UFC 280 | Oliveira vs. Makhachev | 22 October 2022 | Etihad Arena | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Not Disclosed |
| 2. | UFC 284 | Makhachev vs. Volkanovski | 12 February 2023 | RAC Arena | Perth, Australia | Not Disclosed |
| 3. | UFC 294 | Makhachev vs. Volkanovski 2 | 21 October 2023 | Etihad Arena | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Not Disclosed |
| 4. | UFC 302 | Makhachev vs. Poirier | 1 June 2024 | Prudential Center | Newark, New Jersey, United States | Not Disclosed |
| 5. | UFC 311 | Makhachev vs. Moicano | 18 January 2025 | Intuit Dome | Inglewood, California, United States | Not Disclosed |