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It has been commonly observed throughout history that a true
warrior fights not for personal glory. Instead, they fight for a
legacy that lasts for generations and a purpose that extends beyond
mere personal milestones. Such is the case of
Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight king
Islam
Makhachev, whose path was illuminated by the success of
longtime mentor and training partner
Khabib
Nurmagomedov, and the wisdom passed down by the late Abdulmanap
Nurmagomedov. Born in Dagestan, Makhachev’s dominance springs from
years of dedication and unyielding mental resilience.
At UFC 280, Makhachev, the custodian of the grand “father’s plan,”
was a man on a mission, determined to take the championship home.
He had his sights set on the lightweight throne after “The Eagle”
announced his retirement and relinquished his belt following his
victory over
Justin
Gaethje at UFC 254. However, even during his crowning moment in
Abu Dhabi, his humility shined through, articulating his profound
reverence for Khabib and his father. As he stands on the cusp of a
fresh challenge to his reign against
Dustin
Poirier at UFC 302, Makhachev looks to fortify his supremacy on
June 1 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Ahead of the
clash, let’s take a look at some of the defining moments of his
career that have shaped him into the champion he is today:
1. An Unchallenged Upbringing
Makhachev turned professional in August 2010, taking on
Magomed
Bekbolatov under the Tsumada Fighting Championship banner. He
won the fight by unanimous decision. He secured ten more victories
over formidable names like
Mansour
Barnaoui and
Yuri Ivlev.
During that run, he amassed seven finishes fighting predominantly
in Russia and Ukraine.
2. After the Flames
The Dagestani signed a four-fight contract with the UFC in October
2014. His debut appearance went according to plan, securing a
second-round submission over
Leo Kuntz at
UFC 187. However, his sophomore appearance for the Las Vegas-based
promotion would culminate in the lone blemish on his record. During
his UFC 192 appearance against
Adriano
Martins, Makhachev’s early aggression proved costly against the
patient Brazilian. Makhachev’s overhand left found empty air, and
Martins countered with a well-placed right hook that stripped the
legs out from beneath the Russian. The first-round knockout loss
remains the first and only defeat on the Dagestani’s record. Since
then, he has rattled off 13 straight victories, occupying the third
spot in the organization’s history for longest win streaks
alongside all-time greats
Georges St.
Pierre,
Demetrious
Johnson and Nurmagomedov.
3. Knocking on Contention
Makhachev’s road to the title picture was a long and arduous
journey. For much of his career, he chose to operate from the
shadows of
Khabib
Nurmagomedov, not by design but by choice. It was always
destined for him to take over the mantle from “The Eagle,” but the
Dagestani had to endure fellow peers disputing his status and the
organization casting doubt over his legitimacy as a contender.
However, at UFC 267, in front of his second home of Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates, Makhachev wrangled ranked contender
Dan Hooker
with a kimura in the first round. He doubled down on that campaign
for gold with a TKO victory over
Bobby Green
at UFC Fight Night 202, guaranteeing he could not be refused the
title shot.
4. One Crowning Moment
More than seven years and 12 fights later, where he compiled an
11-1 record, Makhachev was granted the title shot at UFC 280
against
Charles
Oliveira. The Russian dominated the former champion, who
surrendered the title to the scale at UFC 274 by missing weight.
Makhachev dominated through the first frame and dropped the
Brazilian with a left hand in the second. He followed Oliveira to
the canvas, bold and defiant against his rival’s expertise on the
ground, and secured an arm-triangle choke at the 3:16 mark. It was
a dynamic effort from the freshly minted champion and the
culmination of a dream years in the making.
5. Ascending to Supremacy
Following the thrashing of Oliveira, Makhachev challenged
featherweight king
Alexander
Volkanovski to a fight for the pound-for-pound No. 1 spot in
the organization. The Dagestani wanted to test the mettle of the
then pound-for-pound No. 1 Australian on the latter’s home turf,
and the promotion obliged. At UFC 284, the pair engaged in a
back-and-forth clash of high-level MMA at its finest. Makhachev
held the advantage in the grappling sequences and showcased his
skills on the feet for long stretches in the first three rounds.
Volkanovski had success of his own and managed to stay away from
danger whenever the fight hit the canvas. However, the Aussie
clawed back to reclaim control in the fifth round, hurting
Makhachev with a right hand late, and tried his hardest to rally
and pull off a finish. Reaching the final bell, Makhachev came out
on top via unanimous decision. Despite the triumph, the victory
wasn’t enough for him to grab the top spot on some pound-for-pound
analyses.
Their second clash at UFC 294 saw Volkanovski slotting in as a
replacement for an injured Oliveira, who faltered the chance to
recapture the throne. Makhachev was perturbed by the suggestion
that Volkanovski won the first encounter and wanted to squash any
lingering doubts about his claim as the champion. The bout proved
to be a massive statement effort from Makhachev, making sure he was
the better man by demolishing “The Great” with a head kick and
follow-up punches in the first round. By putting away Volkanovski
in such a fashion, it could no longer be denied that the
32-year-old was the sport's current pound-for-pound king.