Islam Makhachev News

Harry Kettle - September 9, 2024

Arman Tsarukyan vs Islam Makhachev 2 is reportedly set to take place early next year for the UFC world title. Right now, Islam Makhachev is considered by many to be the pound for pound best fighter in the UFC. While you may or may not agree with that assessment, there’s no way of denying what he’s been able to achieve as UFC lightweight champion.

Fernando Quiles - September 6, 2024

Usman Nurmagomedov has weighed in on the pound-for-pound debate. At the top of the official UFC pound-for-pound rankings currently is UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. UFC light heavyweight titleholder Alex Pereira has the number two spot, while Jon Jones sits at number three.

Curtis Calhoun - August 26, 2024

UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley is the latest high-profile fighter to part with Dana White’s stance on the UFC’s pound-for-pound discussion. UFC titleholders Islam Makhachev and Jon Jones are two of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the promotion at present. Makhachev as of this writing holds the top spot, with the heavyweight champion Jones at No. 3 behind Alex Pereira.

Josh Evanoff - August 26, 2024

Arman Tsarukyan has revealed that he could face Islam Makhachev at UFC 310 in December. The rising lightweight contender has been out of the cage since a bout with Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 in April. That night, Arman Tsarukyan faced the former champion in the biggest test of his career to date. Despite some struggles, the Armenian scored a split-decision victory over ‘Do Bronx’, in the process, earning a rematch with Islam Makhachev.

Curtis Calhoun - August 13, 2024

UFC lightweight contender Mateusz Gamrot thinks Islam Makhachev would be no match for him when it comes to wrestling. Gamrot will face Dan Hooker at UFC 305 this Saturday in Perth, Australia. He returns to the Octagon after defeating former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 299 in March.

Curtis Calhoun - August 12, 2024

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev feels the International Olympic Committee’s ban of Russia from the 2024 Olympic Games was brutally unjust. Russian athletes were banned from the 2024 Summer Olympics after the country invaded Ukraine in early 2022. Only a handful of athletes from Russia competed at this year’s games, but were forced to compete as “individual neutral athletes”.

Susan Cox - August 12, 2024

Paddy Pimblett has issued a warning to current UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Pimblett (22-3 MMA) is hot off a submission victory over Bobby Green (32-16 MMA) this past month at UFC 304 in Manchester, England.

Curtis Calhoun - August 8, 2024

UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier scoffed at Arman Tsarukyan’s idea for an interim title fight as Islam Makhachev recovers from injury. Makhachev is sidelined with a hand injury he suffered during his UFC 302 title fight with Dustin Poirier earlier this year. He was originally anticipated to headline UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, but due to his injury, he won’t be fully recovered in time for the event.

Cole Shelton - August 7, 2024

Javier Mendez, the coach of Islam Makhachev believes his fighter could have a unique path to becoming a champ-champ. Makhachev is the current UFC lightweight champion, but he is good friends with the welterweight champ Belal Muhammad, as the two have also trained with one another in the past. With that, Makhachev has said he won’t fight Muhammad, but instead, Mendez thinks Makhachev is good enough to jump all the way to middleweight and win that belt.

Harry Kettle - August 6, 2024

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has praised Max Holloway for his BMF title triumph over Justin Gaethje. As we know, Islam Makhachev is the king of the 155-pound division. Over the course of the last few years, he’s really been able to cement his place at the top of the mountain. Because of that, he’s been left without too many stand-out challengers. Arman Tsarukyan seemed like the next logical move, but unfortunately, neither man is ready for that contest just yet.

Josh Evanoff - August 2, 2024

If Max Holloway can get through Ilia Topuria, he could have a shot at UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. The Russian has been out of the cage since a fifth-round submission victory over Dustin Poirier in June. That win at UFC 302 was Islam Makhachev’s second title defense, and he already began to eye a move to welterweight. However, with Belal Muhammad’s victory over Leon Edwards over the weekend, those plans were dashed.

Curtis Calhoun - August 2, 2024

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev plans to change course after Belal Muhammad’s welterweight title victory. Muhammad defeated Leon Edwards by unanimous decision to capture the UFC welterweight title last Saturday in Manchester. After a long road to the welterweight title shot, Muhammad made the most of his opportunity and put on a largely dominant performance to dethrone Edwards.

Cole Shelton - July 10, 2024

Leon Edwards says he’d prefer fighting for the middleweight title as opposed to squaring off with Islam Makhachev. Makhachev has recently expressed interest in moving up to welterweight to challenge Edwards for the welterweight title to try and become a champ-champ. However, if Edwards gets past Belal Muhammad in the main event of UFC 304, he says he’d rather move up to middleweight to try and become a champ-champ.

Harry Kettle - July 9, 2024

MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has given his thoughts after Michael Chandler claimed he was offered a fight against Islam Makhachev. As we know, Michael Chandler has spent a long time waiting to fight Conor McGregor. Finally, it seemed as if he was going to get his shot at UFC 303. Unfortunately for the former title challenger, it wasn’t meant to be. The Irishman pulled out due to injury, leaving him in the dark as to if – and when – he would finally get the chance to stand across the cage from ‘Notorious’.

Fernando Quiles - July 7, 2024

Charles Oliveira’s coach believes there is a good case to make for “do Bronx” receiving the next UFC Lightweight Championship opportunity against Islam Makhachev. Oliveira is coming off a split decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300 back in April. Tsarukyan is currently serving a suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for a fan altercation.

Susan Cox - July 1, 2024

Dustin Poirier is challenging Islam Makhachev to a rematch and in the process is responding to ‘bumskie’ Conor McGregor. ‘The Diamond’ (30-9 MMA) fought Makhachev (26-1 MMA) in a lightweight bout a month ago today at UFC 302. The result was a submission victory for the Makhachev, the lightweight champion, at 2:42 of Round 5.

Cole Shelton - June 13, 2024

Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos doesn’t think Islam Makhachev should be the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC. Makhachev is the current UFC lightweight champion and after he submitted Dustin Poirier, fans called for the 155lbs champ to be the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC. However, UFC CEO Dana White shot that down as he believes Jon Jones should still be atop those rankings.

Harry Kettle - June 13, 2024

Sean O’Malley and his head coach Tim Welch have given their thoughts on a Leon Edwards vs Islam Makhachev superfight. Next month at UFC 304, Leon Edwards will defend the UFC welterweight championship against Belal Muhammad. If he can get through that challenge, there’s an excellent chance he’ll wind up battling Islam Makhachev in his next outing. The UFC lightweight king called for a shot at the 170 pound belt after his recent triumph over Dustin Poirier.