W-L-D
Win Streak
(T)KO
SUB
HT/WT
BRTHDAY
COUNTRY
TEAM
Islam Makhachev, the reigning UFC Lightweight Champion, is a force of nature in mixed martial arts. Hailing from the rugged mountains of Dagestan, Russia, Makhachev has carved a path of destruction through the UFC’s most competitive division. With a 27-1 record, a 15-fight win streak, and a style blending Sambo grappling and surgical striking, he’s widely regarded as the pound-for-pound king. This profile dives into his stats, fight history, biography, and answers the web’s most searched questions about the Dagestani phenom.
UFC Record: 15-0 (27-1 Overall)
Active Streak: 15 consecutive wins (Longest in UFC lightweight history).
Opponent | Result | Event |
Dustin Poirier | Win | UFC 302 |
Alexander Volkanovski | Win | UFC 294 |
Alexander Volkanovski | Win | UFC 284 |
Charles Oliveira | Win | UFC 280 |
Born in Makhachkala, Dagestan, Makhachev grew up training in combat Sambo under the tutelage of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov (father of Khabib). After a dominant run in M-1 Global (10-0), he joined the UFC in 2015. Early struggles, including a shocking 2015 loss to Adriano Martins, forged his relentless style. Today, he trains at AKA (California) alongside Daniel Cormier and mentors under Khabib, blending Dagestani wrestling with elite striking.
| Country | Russia |
| Weight Class | Lightweight |
| HT/WT | 5'10", 155lbs |
| Birthday | 10/27/1991 (33)2 |
| Team | Eagles MMA |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Reach | 70.5" |
Islam Makhachev, the UFC Lightweight Champion, is a Dagestani fighter from Makhachkala, Russia, competing at 155 lbs (Lightweight division) with a southpaw stance and a 70.5″ reach. Standing 5’10”, the 33-year-old (born October 27, 1991) trains at Eagles MMA, the same camp that produced Khabib Nurmagomedov, refining his Sambo-based grappling and precision striking. His physical attributes – including a 70.5-inch reach – and technical mastery have made him one of MMA’s most dominant champions, blending Dagestani wrestling with a southpaw striking style to overwhelm opponents.
Islam Makhachev, the UFC lightweight champion, dominates with a 27-1 record, 15-fight win streak, and 91% takedown defense. His 59% striking accuracy and 13 submission wins showcase his Sambo-rooted mastery, making him one of MMA’s most feared grapplers.
| Core Stats Table | |
|---|---|
| Category | Stats |
| Record (W-L-D) | 27-1-0 |
| Active Win Streak | 15 Fights |
| Wins by KO/TKO | 5 (19%) |
| Wins by Submission | 13 (48%) |
| Wins by Decision | 9 (33%) |
| Striking Accuracy | 59% |
| Sig. Strikes Landed | 455 |
| Sig. Strikes Attempted | 773 |
| Takedown Accuracy | 54% |
| Takedowns Landed | 13 |
| Takedowns Attempted | 69 |
| Sig. Str. Defense | 61% |
| Takedown Defense | 91% |
| Knockdown Avg | 0.35 |
| Avg. Fight Time | 10:12 |
| Striking & Grappling Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Sub-Category | Stats |
| Sig. Str. Landed/Min | 2.63 |
| Sig. Str. Absorbed/Min | 1.55 |
| Takedown Avg/15 Min | 3.20 |
| Submission Avg/15 Min | 1.13 |
| Sig. Str. by Position |
Standing: 258 (57%) Clinch: 86 (19%) Ground: 111 (24%) |
| Sig. Str. by Target |
Head: 330 (73%) Body: 108 (24%) Leg: 17 (4%) |
| Date | Opponent | Result | Decision | Round | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 19, 2025 | Renato Moicano | Win | Submission | 1 | 4:05 | UFC 311 |
| Jun 2, 2024 | Dustin Poirier | Win | Submission | 5 | 2:42 | UFC 302 |
| Oct 21, 2023 | Alexander Volkanovski | Win | KO/TKO | 1 | 3:06 | UFC 294 |
| Feb 12, 2023 | Alexander Volkanovski | Win | Decision - Unanimous | 5 | 5:00 | UFC 284 |
| Oct 22, 2022 | Charles Oliveira | Win | Submission | 2 | 3:16 | UFC 280 |
| Feb 27, 2022 | King Green | Win | KO/TKO | 1 | 3:23 | UFC Fight Night |
| Oct 30, 2021 | Dan Hooker | Win | Submission | 1 | 2:25 | UFC 267 |
| Jul 18, 2021 | Thiago Moises | Win | Submission | 1 | 2:25 | UFC 267 |
| Mar 7, 2021 | Drew Dober | Win | Submission | 3 | 1:37 | UFC 259 |
| Sep 7, 2019 | Davi Ramos | Win | Decision - Unanimous | 3 | 5:00 | UFC 242 |
| Apr 20, 2019 | Arman Tsarukyan | Win | Decision - Unanimous | 3 | 5:00 | UFC Fight Night |
| Jul 28, 2018 | Kajan Johnson | Win | Submission | 1 | 4:43 | UFC Fight Night |
| Jan 20, 2018 | Gleison Tibau | Win | KO/TKO | 1 | 0:57 | UFC 220 |
| Feb 12, 2017 | Nik Lentz | Win | Decision - Unanimous | 3 | 5:00 | UFC 208 |
| Sep 18, 2016 | Chris Wade | Win | Decision - Unanimous | 3 | 5:00 | UFC Fight Night |
| May 24, 2015 | Leo Kuntz | Win | Submission | 2 | 2:38 | UFC 187 |
| Sep 7, 2014 | Ivica Truscek | Win | Submission (Triangle Choke) | 3 | 4:45 | M-1 Challenge 51 |
| Jun 7, 2014 | Yuri Ivlev | Win | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 3:10 | M-1 Challenge 49 |
| Aug 21, 2013 | Rander Junio | Win | Decision - Unanimous | 3 | 5:00 | M-1 Global |
| Apr 9, 2013 | Mansour Barnaoui | Win | Decision - Unanimous | 3 | 5:00 | M-1 Challenge 38 |
| Sep 2, 2012 | Anatoly Kormilkin | Win | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 3:17 | Lion's Fights 2 |
| Dec 15, 2011 | Migel Grigoryan | Win | Submission (Triangle Choke) | 1 | 4:25 | SFC 1 |
| Jul 2, 2011 | Vladimir Egoyan | Win | Decision - Split | 2 | 5:00 | ProFC |
| Jul 1, 2011 | Magomed Ibragimov | Win | Submission (Triangle Choke) | 2 | 3:15 | TFC 5 |
| May 6, 2011 | Martiros Grigoryan | Win | TKO | 1 | 2:52 | ProFC |
| Feb 12, 2011 | Tengiz Khuchua | Win | KO | 1 | 0:30 | M-1 |
| Aug 1, 2010 | Magomed Bekbolatov | Win | Decision - Unanimous | 2 | 5:00 | TFC 4 |
Islam Makhachev’s fight record is a testament to his dominance in MMA, with 27 consecutive wins and only 1 career loss (2015). His UFC run alone features 15 straight victories, including finishes over elite champions like Charles Oliveira (UFC 280), Alexander Volkanovski (UFC 284, UFC 294), and Dustin Poirier (UFC 302). The Dagestani phenom has delivered 13 submission wins (48% of his victories) and 5 KO/TKO finishes, showcasing his mastery of Sambo grappling and tactical striking.
Title Reign: Captured the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 280 (2022) with a second-round submission of Charles Oliveira.
Champion vs. Champion: Defended his belt twice against Alexander Volkanovski (UFC 284, UFC 294), including a first-round knockout in their rematch.
Historic Streak: Tied Khabib Nurmagomedov’s UFC lightweight record with 15 consecutive wins, defeating 7 ranked opponents.
Ruthless Finishes: 10 of his last 12 UFC wins ended via submission or knockout, with 7 first-round finishes.
Makhachev’s early career (2010–2016) in M-1 Global and ProFC saw him hone his grappling, with 6 triangle choke submissions and 3 armbars. After joining the UFC in 2015, he evolved into a complete fighter, blending Dagestani wrestling with improved striking (59% accuracy). His 91% takedown defense and 3.20 takedowns per 15 minutes make him nearly unstoppable in the octagon.
Dustin Poirier (UFC 302, 2024): Fifth-round submission to retain the title.
Alexander Volkanovski (UFC 294, 2023): First-round head-kick KO, dubbed “The Strike Heard Around the World.”
Dan Hooker (UFC 267, 2021): First-round kimura submission in under 3 minutes.
UFC Debut: Submitted Leo Kuntz in 2015 with a rear-naked choke (UFC 187).
Breakthrough Fight: Unanimous decision over Arman Tsarukyan (2019), a bout hailed as a “grappling masterclass.”
