Islam Makhachev
28-1-0
Welterweight
About
The pound-for-pound king — a nearly unbeaten lightweight champion and protégé of Khabib Nurmagomedov who later conquered welterweight.
See moreSee less
Islam Makhachev is the pound-for-pound king of his era. Trained alongside and by the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov, he built a long winning streak before submitting Charles Oliveira to win the vacant lightweight title in 2022, then defended it against the division's best — including two wins over fellow all-time great Alexander Volkanovski.
After a dominant lightweight reign atop the pound-for-pound rankings, he moved up and won the welterweight title from Jack Della Maddalena, achieving two-division greatness. His suffocating Dagestani grappling and aura of inevitability make him a standard-bearer for technical excellence, even as critics argue his control-based style prioritizes dominance over the risk-taking that produces finishes.
Why fans love Makhachev
Suffocating, technically elite grappling, two-division success, and a quietly confident champion's demeanor. Purists admire his near-flawless control and problem-solving.
Why some fans hate Makhachev
Detractors find his grappling-heavy, control-based style less exciting than a finisher's, and some lean on a Khabib-comparison narrative to discount him. A few of his decision wins drew 'safe' criticism from fans who prefer more risk.
