Islam Makhachev biography: 13 things about UFC Lightweight Champion

Who is Islam Makhachev?

Islam Ramazanovich Makhachev (Исла́м Рамаза́нович Маха́чев) is a combat sambo fighter and a professional mixed martial artist. He is an ethnic Lak and a Muslim.

Currently, Makhachev signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which is based in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. He is 5’10” tall and he competes in the lightweight division.

Makhachev has no fight name. Here are 13 more things about him:

1. He was born in Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia.
2. He grew up in Burshi, Dagestan.
3. He holds a professional MMA record of 26 wins and 1 loss.
4. On August 1, 2010, he made his professional MMA debut at “Tsumada Fighting Championship 4” in Tsumadinsky, Russia where he defeated Magomed Bekbolatov via unanimous decision.
5. In 2011, he defeated five MMA opponents namely Tengiz Khuchua, Martiros Grigoryan, Magomed Ibragimov, Vladimir Egoyan and Migel Grigoryan.
6. From February 12, 2011 to September 7, 2014, he competed in M-1 Global.
7. On September 2, 2012, he submitted Anatoly Kormilkin via armbar at “Lion’s Fights 2” in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
8. In 2013, he defeated Mansour Barnaoui and Rander Junio both via unanimous decision and in 2014, he submitted Yuri Ivlev and Ivica Trušček.
9. On October 2, 2014, he signed a four-fight contract with the UFC.
10. On May 23, 2015, he made his UFC debut. 
11. On November 11, 2016, he won the gold medal in the 74kg category in the 2016 Fédération Internationale Amateur de Sambo (FIAS) World Combat Sambo Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.
12. He was a protégé of former UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, who passed away on July 3, 2020. 
13. On October 27, 2024, he turned 33.

Islam Makhachev’s UFC career timeline

From 2015 to 2025, Islam Makhachev has 16 UFC fights. Here are the results:

2015

• On May 23, 2015, he submitted Leo Kuntz via rear-naked choke at “UFC 187” in Las Vegas.
• On October 3, 2015, he was knocked out by Adriano Martins at “UFC 192” in Houston, Texas, USA.

2016

• On September 17, 2016, he defeated Chris Wade via unanimous decision at “UFC Fight Night 94” in Hidalgo, Texas. 

2017

• On February 11, 2017, he defeated Nik Lentz via unanimous decision at “UFC 208” in Brooklyn, New York, USA.

2018

• On January 20, 2018, he knocked out Gleison Tibau at “UFC 220” in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
• On July 28, 2018, he submitted Kajan Johnson at “UFC on Fox 30” in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

2019

• On April 20 2019, he defeated Arman Tsarukyan via unanimous decision at “UFC Fight Night 149” in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
• On September 7, 2019, he defeated Davi Ramos via unanimous decision at “UFC 242” in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

2020

2021

• On March 6, 2021, he submitted Drew Dober at “UFC 259” in Enterprise.
• On July 17, 2021, he submitted Thiago Moises at “UFC Vegas 31” in Enterprise.
• On October 30, 2021, he submitted Dan Hooker at “UFC 267” in Abu Dhabi.

2022

• On February 26, 2022, he knocked out Bobby Green at “UFC Vegas 49” in Enterprise, Nevada.
• On October 22, 2022, he became the new UFC Lightweight Champion by submitting Charles Oliveira at “UFC 280” in Abu Dhabi.

2023

• On February 12, 2023, he successfully defended his UFC Lightweight Championship title from Alexander Volkanovski via unanimous decision at “UFC 284” in Perth, Australia.
• On October 21, 2023, he successfully defended his UFC Lightweight Championship title by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski at “UFC 294” in Abu Dhabi.

2024

• On June 1, 2024, he successfully defended his UFC Lightweight Championship title by submitting Dustin Poirier at “UFC 302” in Newark, New Jersey, USA.

2025

• On January 18, 2025, he successfully defended his UFC Lightweight Championship title by submitting Renato Moicano at “UFC 311” in Inglewood, California, USA.