Islam Makhachev

Overview

One loss in 19 UFC fights, and it came in the first round, to Adriano Martins in 2015. Islam Makhachev hasn't lost since. He's the Welterweight champion at 18-1 in the UFC (29-1 across all promotions), carrying a 17-fight win streak, the longest of his career.

Eleven of his 18 UFC wins are finishes: eight by submission, three by KO/TKO. Seven of his wins came against opponents our model rates elite.

UFC Career

Makhachev debuted at UFC 187 in May 2015 with a second-round submission of Leo Kuntz. His second fight ended the way few of his fights have: Adriano Martins stopped him in 1:46 of round 1 at UFC 192. It's his only UFC loss.

The rebuild was patient. Unanimous decisions over Chris Wade and Nik Lentz came first, then a 0:57 stoppage of Gleison Tibau and a submission of Kajan Johnson late in round 1. Arman Tsarukyan and Davi Ramos both went the distance with him in 2019.

From 2021 the finishes piled up. Drew Dober was submitted in round 3, Thiago Moises in round 4 of a five-round main event, Dan Hooker in round 1. King Green was stopped in round 1 of another main event.

Then the elite run began. Charles Oliveira was submitted in round 2 at UFC 280. Alexander Volkanovski lasted five rounds in their first fight, a unanimous decision, and the rematch ended at 3:06 of round 1 by KO/TKO. Dustin Poirier was submitted in round 5 at UFC 302, and Renato Moicano in round 1 at UFC 311.

The last two fights both went five rounds and both ended in unanimous decisions: Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322, then Ian Machado Garry in the UFC 330 main event, a title fight.

Seventeen wins in a row. One loss, back in 2015.

Fighting Style

Makhachev is a grappler first. He takes opponents down far more often than most, almost never gets taken down himself, and hunts for submissions at a rate few can match. Eight of his 18 UFC wins have come by submission.

On the feet, he is a low-volume striker who stays hard to hit. He throws less than most fighters, but he lands a high share of what he throws and absorbs very little in return.

His finishes come early and late alike. Six of his 11 finishes came in the first round, but he has also submitted opponents in rounds 3, 4 and 5. The three KO/TKO wins all came in round 1, so he is more than a pure grappler.

Notable Wins

• Charles Oliveira — submission, round 2 (3:16), UFC 280 (2022)
• Alexander Volkanovski — KO/TKO, round 1 (3:06), UFC 294 (2023)
• Dustin Poirier — submission, round 5 (2:42), UFC 302 (2024)
• Ian Machado Garry — unanimous decision, round 5, UFC 330 (2026)

Quick Facts

• Division: Welterweight (champion)
• UFC record: 18-1 (11 finishes)
• Professional record, all promotions: 29-1-0
• UFC debut: May 2015
• Stance: Southpaw
• Height / reach: 5'10" / 70.5"
• Team: Nurmagomedov School
• Born: Dagestan, Russia