Biography of Islam Makhachev
Islam Makhachev is a Russian world champion in combat sambo and the lightweight champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in mixed martial arts. He fights in styles such as wushu-sanda, combat sambo, judo, boxing, and freestyle wrestling. He achieved the most consecutive wins in UFC history, surpassing Khabib Nurmagomedov. Since then, fans have less frequently called him Khabib's successor, as Makhachev has proven he has his own vision for fighting.
Childhood, Youth, Family
Islam was born in the fall of 1991 into the Lak family of Ramzan and Zeynab Makhachev from Makhachkala, Dagestan. His mother once told him that they named him Islam so that the faith would "enter their home" even more. He has an older brother, Kurbanismail.Ramzan Makhachev came to Makhachkala from the village of Burshi in the Lak district and got a job as a driver. Later, the family started a small business with greenhouses where they grew vegetables for sale.
From an early age, Islam was passionate about sports, following his father's example. At the age of seven, he joined a taekwondo club but didn't stay there long.
In the first grade he became friends with Abubakar Nurmagomedov, who suggested they train together in the wushu-sanda section led by his father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Shamil Zavurov and future UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov also trained there.
In wushu-sanda, Islam had his first amateur fight and won his first competitions. However, he had to stop for a while because his family moved to the village of Novy Khushet.
The travel time to training was too long, so in the new place, Islam took up playing football and even participated in regional competitions. He also often got into street fights; the local boys initially thought he was a city smart aleck who needed to be "put in his place." He soon became friends with most of them.
Later, he returned to martial arts in a freestyle wrestling club. A year later, after learning that Khabib was already competing professionally, Makhachev resumed training with Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Meanwhile, he studied at the Pyatigorsk branch of the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics. The young man would wake up at six in the morning, go for a run, then study at the university from nine, and by five in the afternoon, he would arrive for training.
Since he came to the club straight from classes, he would quickly snack on a bun and drink tea from a thermos or water from a bottle and train until seven in the evening. Then he would run to the station to catch the bus home.
Islam lived in this routine for three years, during which his teachers did not give him any breaks or exempt him from classes even when he needed to travel for competitions. Initially, his father paid for his trips to amateur tournaments, but soon Makhachev got a job as a security guard to feel independent and responsible.
Sports Career
Makhachev made his mark as a professional fighter in 2010, in a pankration match against Magomed Bekbolatov, marking his MMA debut. He seriously took up mixed martial arts a year later, after having five bouts in combat sambo. This led him to three victories in national championships and a win at the World Championship in Budapest, where he didn't give his opponents a single chance to score points, defeating the Bulgarian fighter Valentin Benishev in the final with a score of 7:0.Makhachev signed a contract with the UFC in the fall of 2014, and by 2015, he had already defeated American Leo Kuntz with a rear-naked choke. Islam's only loss to date was to Brazilian Adriano Martins, who knocked out the Dagestani in the first round.
At the beginning of 2019, a match was planned between the Russian fighter and Brazilian Francisco Trinaldo. The fight was canceled due to the brawl between Khabib Nurmagomedov's and Conor McGregor's teams, which occurred in New York after their sporting event. Islam was suspended from the fight as he was also involved in the altercation.
However, in the same year, Makhachev held two more matches, in which he was declared the winner by unanimous decision. The bout with one of his opponents, Arman Tsarukyan, was named "Fight of the Night."
In 2021, Islam had three fights and won all of them decisively. American Drew Dober stated that his opponent phenomenally executed the techniques he mastered—he couldn't resist Makhachev's arm triangle.
The Russian athlete had two fights in 2022. He defeated Bobby Green with a series of TKOs (punches), and then, using his famous triangle again, forced Brazilian Charles Oliveira to submit. In the fall, Islam became the second Russian after Khabib to win the UFC lightweight championship title.
In the first fight, he was awarded a unanimous decision victory and the bout was recognized as "Fight of the Night." The second encounter was equally spectacular: in the first round, Makhachev knocked out his opponent with a head kick and finished the fight, thus defending his UFC lightweight championship title for the second time.
The match was named "Performance of the Night" and brought much joy to Islam's fans. He became the undisputed leader of the UFC's pound-for-pound fighters list. Makhachev was also named Athlete of the Year by ESPN, and UFC President Dana White noted that he hopes to organize a rematch between the Russian and Charles Oliveira, who withdrew from the fight due to an injury.
Islam Makhachev's Personal Life
In the spring of 2021, fans of the athlete learned about a joyful event: Islam Makhachev got married. No one saw his wife, as even at the wedding, her face was hidden by a thick veil. It is known that the UFC champion's wife comes from a Muslim family that honors centuries-old Dagestani traditions.The wedding took place in the most luxurious restaurant in Makhachkala, attended by all the athletes who have shared and continue to share his fighting journey. Khabib Nurmagomedov was also at the celebration. The wedding featured traditional lively dances, numerous wishes, and congratulations.
In 2023, Makhachev revealed that he became the father of a baby girl. He immediately stated that he would delay giving her a mobile phone for as long as possible, as he sees nothing good in gadgets. He plans to accompany the girl to and from school whenever possible. Therefore, he believes she clearly won't need a smartphone.
Islam Makhachev Now
In the summer of 2024, the athlete defended his UFC lightweight title for the third time. This occurred in a match against American Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in New Jersey. Islam defeated his opponent using a D'Arce choke, after which the American submitted. This marked Makhachev's fourteenth consecutive victory, surpassing his friend Khabib to become the leader in winning streaks in UFC history.The mixed martial artist plans to try his hand in the welterweight division.
Interesting Facts
- In his childhood, Islam Makhachev and his friends would mischievously attend weddings at restaurants as uninvited guests. They sneaked into banquet halls pretending to be dancers, but actually sat at free guest seats and quickly enjoyed the wedding delicacies. They always got away with it, but one day Tagir Ulanbekov, who also became a UFC fighter, decided to dance as well. The boys were thrown out, and they never attended weddings at restaurants again, as the "dancers" were recognized.
- When he has time to relax, Islam prefers riding his favorite motorcycle or horseback riding. He rides the motorcycle not on roads, but through meadows and fields to avoid causing problems for himself or others. He has a deep affection for horses, spending about a hundred thousand rubles a month on the upkeep of his small herd. The average cost of one horse is approximately five hundred thousand rubles.
- Islam Makhachev was born left-handed, but his parents taught him to do everything with his right hand, like other children. He learned to write and eat with a spoon using his right hand, as required by the Muslim religion in which he was raised.
Important Life Events
- 2010: Won the TFC-4 tournament.
- 2011: Won the M-1 tournament.
- 2014: Became the Russian Combat Sambo Champion. Signed a contract with the UFC.
- 2015: Won the UFC 187 tournament.
- 2016: Became the Russian Combat Sambo Champion for the second time. Became the World Combat Sambo Champion and was awarded the title of International Master of Sports of Russia.
- 2017: Won the UFC 208 tournament.
- 2018: Won the UFC 220 tournament.
- 2019: Won the UFC 242 tournament.
- 2021: Won the UFC 259 tournament. Married a Muslim woman.
- 2022: Won the UFC 280 tournament. Captured the UFC Lightweight Title. Had the "Fight of the Night" by defeating Charles Oliveira. Awarded the Order "For Merit to the Republic of Dagestan."
- 2023: A daughter was born. Won the UFC 294 tournament, defending the UFC Lightweight Title for the second time. Awarded the Order of Honor of the Republic of Dagestan.
- 2024: Won the UFC 302 tournament, defending the UFC Lightweight Title for the third time.
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