Islam Makhachev News
Sean O’Malley makes case for Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria: "You can't tell me that isn't a fight you would want to see"
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 28, 2024
If Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria is eventually booked, count Sean O’Malley in. The former UFC bantamweight champion was watching Topuria put his featherweight gold at stake against Max Holloway. The two collided in Abu Dhabi this past Saturday. Going into the fight, Topuria vowed to be the first man to knock Max Holloway out.
Dana White shuts down Ilia Topuria's talk of challenging Islam Makhachev at lightweight: "This is his first title defense"
Josh Evanoff - October 25, 2024
UFC President Dana White doesn’t want to see Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev just yet. ‘El Matador’ is set to return to the octagon in the main event of UFC 308 this Saturday night. Back for the first time since winning featherweight gold against Alexander Volkanovski in February, Ilia Topuria will face Max Holloway. ‘Blessed’ earned the title opportunity with a knockout win over Justin Gaethje in April.
Dana White reveals he'll "absolutely" approve Islam Makhachev welterweight title shot with win over Arman Tsarukyan
Josh Evanoff - October 24, 2024
UFC President Dana White has co-signed on Islam Makhachev’s future welterweight move. The Russian has been out of the cage since a June title defense against Dustin Poirier. In the main event of UFC 302, Islam Makhachev faced ‘The Diamond’ in the latter’s third crack at undisputed gold. Despite some resistance from the challenger, the lightweight champion wound up securing a fifth-round submission victory.
Max Holloway confirms interest in Islam Makhachev fight following UFC 308: "I want all the smoke"
Josh Evanoff - October 22, 2024
UFC featherweight contender Max Holloway has his eyes on lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. This Saturday night in Abu Dhabi, ‘Blessed’ will make the walk to the cage once again. Back for the first time since an April knockout over Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, Max Holloway will meet Ilia Topuria. For his part, ‘El Matador’ claimed the featherweight gold with a stunning stoppage win over Alexander Volkanovski in February.
Arman Tsarukyan reveals how he can defeat Islam Makhachev in UFC title fight
Fernando Quiles Jr. - October 18, 2024
Arman Tsarukyan has detailed how he can dethrone Islam Makhachev. Makhachev is the reigning UFC lightweight champion. He defeated Charles Oliveira via second-round submission to capture the gold back in October 2022. He’s had three successful title defenses since that fight.
Ilia Topuria warns Islam Makhachev ahead of possible LW move: "Let's settle it like adults!"
Curtis Calhoun - October 8, 2024
Tensions are boiling between UFC champions Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev ahead of Topuria’s first featherweight title defense. Topuria will face BMF titleholder Max Holloway in the UFC 308 main event later this month in Abu Dhabi. He returns to the Octagon after finishing Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 to capture the UFC featherweight title.
Ilia Topuria opens up on future clash with fellow UFC champion Islam Makhachev: "Pay for his medical bills"
Josh Evanoff - October 3, 2024
UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria wants to meet Islam Makhachev in the octagon. ‘El Matador’ has been out of the cage since winning featherweight gold at UFC 298 in February. In the main event, Ilia Topuria scored a second-round knockout victory over longtime champion Alexander Volkanovski. For his first title defense, the young star will face ‘BMF’ titleholder Max Holloway later this month.
Khabib Nurmagomedov reveals Islam Makhachev has accepted January title defense: "Best fighter in the world"
Josh Evanoff - September 30, 2024
According to Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev will make his UFC return in January. The UFC lightweight champion hasn’t appeared in the cage since a clash with Dustin Poirier in early June. Islam Makhachev entered the main event as a massive betting favorite but dealt with more resistance than many expected. Still, the champion closed the show in round five with a submission victory over ‘The Diamond’.
Islam Makhachev laughs off the possibility of Conor McGregor returning to the UFC: "It's already a fantasy"
Josh Evanoff - September 17, 2024
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev believes Conor McGregor won’t fight again. ‘The Notorious’ has been out of the cage for over three years now. Conor McGregor last appeared in the octagon in July 2021, suffering a broken leg in his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier. Since then, the Irishman has repeatedly called for a return to the cage. Luckily, he was finally booked for his comeback earlier this summer.
Dana White confirms the UFC won't make an interim lightweight title despite Islam Makhachev's injury: "We have plans"
Josh Evanoff - September 10, 2024
UFC President Dana White has confirmed that there will be no interim titles in Islam Makhachev’s absence. The current UFC lightweight champion hasn’t been seen in the cage since June. In the main event of UFC 302, Islam Makhachev faced longtime contender, Dustin Poirier. Despite entering the bout a massive favorite, ‘The Diamond’ made the dominant champion work. However, Makhachev still emerged with a fifth-round submission victory.
Arman Tsarukyan vs. Islam Makhachev 2 will reportedly take place “early next year”
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.
Bellator champion Usman Nurmagomedov picks Islam Makhachev over Jon Jones in UFC pound-for-pound debate
Fernando Quiles Jr. - 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.
Arman Tsarukyan reveals Islam Makhachev rematch is in the works for UFC 310 in December
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.
Bo Nickal laughs off idea that Islam Makhachev would be D1 NCAA wrestling champion
Harry Kettle - August 20, 2024
UFC prospect Bo Nickal has laughed off the idea that Islam Makhachev would be a D1 NCAA wrestling champion. As we know, Islam Makhachev is one of the scariest guys in all of mixed martial arts. In addition to his wrestling prowess, he’s also added some solid striking and great submission work to his game in recent years. In addition to that, he’s the reigning UFC lightweight champion – and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.
Mateusz Gamrot claims he'd outwrestle Islam Makhachev in potential UFC title fight
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.
Islam Makhachev blames "Dirty politics" for Russia's ban from the 2024 Olympic Games
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”.
Daniel Cormier shoots down an interim LW title fight amidst Islam Makhachev's hiatus: "Speaking titles into existence?"
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.
Dricus Du Plessis warns Islam Makhachev of pursuing middleweight title: "He's dreaming real big"
Cole Shelton - August 8, 2024
Dricus Du Plessis has warned Islam Makhachev of pursuing the middleweight title. Makhachev previously shared his intentions of becoming a champ-champ, but after Belal Muhammad became the welterweight champ, those plans seemingly went out the window. However, Islam’s coach Javier Mendez recently came out and expressed interest in Makhachev moving all the way up to middleweight to try and win that title.