Islam Makhachev News

Chris Taylor - August 15, 2020

Two massive UFC lightweight fights are now slated for the fall of 2020, in addition to October’s title unification bout. At UFC 254 on October 24 reigning UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov will look to keep his perfect record intact when he squares off with interim title holder Justin Gaethje.

Adam Martin - March 1, 2020

An exciting lightweight bout between top-15 ranked Islam Makhachev and Alexander Hernandez is the latest addition to UFC 249. MMAjunkie.com reported that Makhachev vs. Hernandez has been verbally agreed to for UFC 249, which takes place on April 18 at Barclay Center in Brooklyn, New York. The main event sees UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov take on Tony Ferguson.

Cole Shelton - January 30, 2020

Kevin Lee has made it clear he is looking to sign two bout agreements at once. Lee is set to headline UFC Brasilia against Charles Oliveira on March 14, yet many expected him to fight Islam Makhachev. After Lee knocked out Gregor Gillespie, he and the Russian went back-and-forth and agreed to fight one another on social media. But, according to “The Motown Phenom” why it isn’t happening next is because Makhachev wanted to wait until June.

Cole Shelton - January 14, 2020

Islam Makhachev believes Kevin Lee took the easy way out by not fighting him. In the main event of UFC Brasilia, Lee will battle Charles Oliveira which kind of came out of nowhere to many. Especially given the fact, Makhachev and “Motown Phenom” have been going back-and-forth for several months now about a possible fight and it only intensified after Lee knocked out Gregor Gillespie. Both sides seemed interested in the fight but for whatever reasons they could not come to terms.

Tom Taylor - December 23, 2019

Over the weekend, UFC lightweight contender Kevin Lee divulged to Helen Yee that he has received an offer to fight Islam Makhachev at UFC 249 in Brooklyn, New York this April. Lee added that he and the UFC are waiting on Makhachev to sign his contract, and that it’s not clear what the delay is. Kevin Lee tells me his next fight offered will be against Islam Mackhachev in the Khabib vs Tony Ferguson card in April in Brooklyn. According to Kevin, they’re waiting on Islam and not sure what the holdup is. Interview coming shortly.

Adam Martin - November 3, 2019

Fresh off a massive head kick KO over Gregor Gillespie at UFC 244, lightweight contender Kevin Lee and his rival Islam Makhachev have agreed to a fight. Immediately after Lee knocked out Gillespie, Makhachev took to his Twitter and congratulated Lee on the win and challenged him to a fight. Here’s what the Russian said.

Adam D Martin - October 27, 2019

UFC superstar Conor McGregor took a shot at Russian standout Islam Makhachev, and the two got into an exchange of words on social media. The father of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, Abdulmanap recently said he believes that Conor McGregor should fight Makhachev, who is a training partner of Khabib. McGregor evidently does not agree with what Khabib’s father suggested and took to his Twitter account to turn down the fight.

Harry Kettle - October 9, 2019

UFC lightweight Dan Hooker and former two-weight UFC champion Daniel Cormier have a difference of opinion when it comes to who Hooker should face next inside the Octagon. The Kiwi star was able to defeat Al Iaquinta at UFC 243 in Melbourne, Australia to establish himself as one to watch at 155 pounds. The next natural step would be for him to face someone higher up in the rankings, but with Raging Al fighting down the rankings to face Hooker, a lot of fans believe Dan should be doing the very same thing.

Tom Taylor - September 17, 2019

Late last week, Kevin Lee announced his intention to return to the lightweight division after a brief stint at welterweight. He stated that he hopes to work his way toward a title fight with lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, and that he’s interested in battling Nurmagomedov’s training partner Islam Makhachev in the meantime. “After looking at that last fight with Khabib, I did an interview before Khabib fought Dustin (Poirier) and said I wasn’t too impressed,” Lee told ESPN (via MMA Mania). “But after seeing the way Khabib handled Dustin, I might want a piece of that cake. I like the biggest target I can find. He’s the real challenge out there. He’s the guy who is going to challenge Jon Jones for the pound-for-pound title. That’s the kind of fight that will get me up.

Tom Taylor - August 27, 2019

On Monday, Conor McGregor stablemate Dillon Danis took a shot at Khabib Nurmagomedov training partner Islam Makhachev, keeping the beef between their two teams alive and well. https://twitter.com/dillondanis/status/1166006545391468546

Tom Taylor - August 26, 2019

The beef between Team Conor McGregor and Team Khabib Nurmagomedov is seemingly alive and well. Nearly a year removed from McGregor and Nurmagomedov’s October, 2018 fight, which the latter won by submission, members of their respective entourages are still trading shots. The latest to do so is McGregor stablemate Dillon Danis, who called for a fight with Nurmagomedov training partner Islam Makhachev on Twitter. https://twitter.com/dillondanis/status/1166006545391468546

Tom Taylor - May 6, 2019

The UFC is headed to Abu Dhabi with UFC 242 on September 7, and a number of top Russian fighters are expected to compete on the card. Khabib Nurmagomedov is rumored to be defending his undisputed lightweight title against Dustin Poirier in the main event, while other stars like Islam Makhachev, Zubaira Tukhugov and Mairbek Taisumov are reportedly in talks to join the card. Former UFC lightweight and featherweight champ Conor McGregor has some pretty incendiary opinions about several of these fighters.

Cole Shelton - November 6, 2018

The UFC just announced three exciting fights for 2019. The ESPN-era is almost here, and to kick off the first card on ESPN+, Paige VanZant (7-4) will make her long-awaited return to the Octagon. VanZant will take on The Ultimate Fighter season 26 alum Rachael Ostovich (4-4) on January 18 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Chris Taylor - February 11, 2017

A lightweight bout between Nik Lentz and Islam Makhachev took place on tonight’s UFC 208 prelims. Round one begins and Nik immediately engages Islam in the clinch. Makhachev scores a quick trip takedown and begins working from full guard. Lentz locks up a guillotine choke but cannot secure the submission. Islam pops his head out and begins working some strikes. Nik scrambles but cannot get back up to his feet. Good top control here from Islam. He works some short strikes from the top. Lentz is working for another guillotine choke. He locks it up but it does not appear to be tight. Round one comes to an end.

Russell Ess - July 27, 2016

On Wednesday, USADA released a statement that Islam Makhachev was ruled with a ‘No Fault’ for his Meldonium Anti-Doping Policy Violation. Makhachev tested positive for the prohibited substance Meldonium, “which was determined to have been ingested by him without fault or negligence.”

bjpenndotcom - April 15, 2016

News broke Friday afternoon that UFC on FOX 19 fighter Islam Makhachev had been pulled from his UFC on FOX 19 fight with Drew Dober after it was discovered that he had Meldonium in his system. The UFC issued a statement regarding the situation, which also revealed that Meldonium was only placed on the WADA banned substance list as of January 1st.

bjpenndotcom - April 15, 2016

Earlier this week news broke that Lyoto Machida had been pulled from his UFC on FOX 19 scrap with Dan Henderson after admitting to using banned substances during a random out-of-competition drug test. Now, with less than 24 hours until fight night, Islam Makhachev has been reportedly pulled from his fight with Drew Dober after he was flagged for using banned substances as well.