Islam Makhachev is a Russian mixed martial artist who was selected into the therefore very prestigious Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) so early in life. Very quickly, Makhachev has become one of the best fighters in the UFC lightweight division—his great grappling skills and aggressive pressure capture the audience with energetic performances and a non-back-down mentality.
Early Life and Career
Born in Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia, Islam Makhachev got involved in combat sports at an early age. Having a mentor in the person of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, Makhachev with time started to develop good wrestling and sambo backgrounds. His early success in amateur grappling competitions led him into the professional Mixed Martial Arts.
Makhachev turned professional in the sport of MMA in 2010; very soon, he became a hot prospect. He just ground through opponents with his grappling, lining up a lot of submissions and, in that way, racking up wins by decision. Such a record got him signed with the UFC in 2015.
UFC career
Makhachev is still perfect in the UFC, and his work has been pretty impressive. He is a grappler who dominates opponents using takedowns and dominant control on the ground. His striking, too, has undergone some big improvements, thus letting him tee up takedowns or finish the fight with strikes.
One of the biggest wins in Makhachev’s career came in 2021 against Drew Dober. It was a rather dominant performance; he was providing ground control by landing many punches and eventually got his opponent to submit. This win solidified his position in the top rung of the division.
The Legacy of Khabib Nurmagomedov
Islam Makhachev is constantly put side-by-side with his colleague and close friend Khabib Nurmagomedov. Both come from Dagestan and were nurtured under one mentor, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. The dominance that Khabib had shown in the UFC, combined with earning his undefeated record, created a continuous shadow over the sport, onto which the body Makhachev had taken the charge to push forward.
While Makhachev definitely succeeds on his own right, comparisons with Khabib are inevitable. Many fans and experts believe that Makhachev can be a champion in the UFC like his former teammate.
The Makhachev vs. Oliveira Bout
The most awaited UFC Fight since that last one happened in October 2022, when Islam Makhachev fought Charles Oliveira for the title. That fight was deemed to be the top contest between these graceful light fighters of the world. Makhachev bullied him around from the very start, then wrestled Oliveira down before finding the submission late in the second round at UFC 284. The win really cements Makhachev as the UFC lightweight champion and amongst the very best the sport has to offer.
Future Prospects
The future looks very bright as far as Islam Makhachev and the UFC go. As a current lightweight champion, he is going to have a big bull’s-eye on his back from the best of the rest out there. However, with good enough grappling and an all-around game, Makhachev can be the worst opponent that anybody wants to fight. Besides defending his title, Makhachev has noted his interest in fighting as a welterweight. With his size and strength, he could have an advantage here, making this a fight that the fans want to see.
Conclusion
Islam Makhachev is one of UFC’s hottest prospects. His chance is surefire to join the company best fighters from his generation, with his extremely good grappling ability and non-relentless pressure toward a dominantly perfect performance in full control of the action. Right now, as the reigning lightweight champion, Makhachev is poised to become a game-changer en route to eternal success in the sport.
