{"id":2810,"date":"2025-11-16T11:48:24","date_gmt":"2025-11-16T12:48:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.youtubexyoutube.com\/?p=2810"},"modified":"2025-11-27T09:36:16","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T09:36:16","slug":"born-in-the-mountains-crowned-in-new-york-meet-the-russian-champion-redefining-mma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.youtubexyoutube.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/16\/born-in-the-mountains-crowned-in-new-york-meet-the-russian-champion-redefining-mma\/","title":{"rendered":"Born in the mountains, crowned in New York: Meet the Russian champion redefining MMA"},"content":{"rendered":"

Islam Makhachev\u2019s Madison Square Garden triumph cements him as one of mixed martial arts\u2019 all-time greats<\/strong><\/p>\n

New York was roaring. Under the blinding lights of Madison Square Garden \u2013 the world\u2019s most mythologized combat arena \u2013 every eye in the building locked onto one man from a remote mountain region in southern Russia. He\u00a0stood in the center of the Octagon, his face trembling with adrenaline, his voice cracking as he tried \u2013 and failed \u2013 to hold back the flood of emotion. Moments earlier, he had done something no Russian fighter had ever achieved: he claimed UFC gold in a second weight class, putting himself into a club so exclusive it barely fills a table.<\/p>\n

He let out a primal, triumphant yell as the crowd exploded around him. The two championship belts lay draped over his shoulders, their gold plates catching the light like twin crowns.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThis is the dream! All my life for these two belts!\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

he shouted into Joe Rogan\u2019s microphone, thanking New York for its warmth \u2013 for embracing a kid from Dagestan who grew up thousands of miles and a world away from these bright lights.<\/p>\n

That man was Islam Makhachev.<\/p>\n

And after UFC 322, it\u2019s no longer outlandish \u2013 or even premature \u2013 to say it: he may be the greatest mixed martial artist the sport has ever seen.<\/p>\n

Where a Champion was forged<\/h2>\n

Islam Makhachev\u2019s rise didn\u2019t follow the usual script. Before he became the most complete fighter in the sport, he conquered combat sambo, tore through M-1, and rebuilt himself after a loss that would\u2019ve derailed almost anyone else. He never sold fights with trash talk or theatrics. He just clocked in, fought, and won \u2013 until the wins turned him into a star.<\/p>\n

His path started far from the UFC spotlight: first in taekwondo, then in Wushu Sanda, where a classmate \u2013 Abubakar Nurmagomedov \u2013 pulled him into the gym. A family move forced him to stop training for a while, and Islam poured himself into soccer, even reaching republican tournaments. But eventually the pull of combat sports won out. He found himself in a wrestling room, and soon after \u2013 in Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov\u2019s legendary gym, grinding alongside Khabib and Abubakar.<\/p>\n

Those years were brutal. University classes, long commutes, exhausting sessions \u2013 and a job as a security guard once he realized fighting could become a career. None of it stopped his growth.<\/p>\n

His first major high came in 2009, when he became Russia\u2019s combat sambo champion. His biggest early low followed immediately: a first-round exit at the world championship, while his teammates \u2013 including Khabib \u2013 struck gold. That loss stayed with him.<\/p>\n

By 2011 he committed fully to MMA, fighting five times in one year. He knocked opponents down with kicks, dominated them on the ground, and submitted them with ease. After clearing levels in M-1 Selection and Pro FC, he stepped into M-1 Global \u2013 then the top promotion in the post-Soviet region.<\/p>\n

His debut came against France\u2019s Mansour Barnaoui, a future multi-promotion champion. Makhachev emptied the arsenal: clean wrestling entries, heavy top control, sharp striking. Barnaoui kept getting up and even threatened Islam\u2019s back twice, but Islam shut it all down and won convincingly.<\/p>\n

Four wins later, a title shot was in sight \u2013 but everyone already understood the bigger truth: Islam Makhachev had outgrown the regional scene.<\/p>\n

He was ready for the UFC.<\/p>\n

The road to UFC gold<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When Islam Makhachev signed with the UFC in October 2014, it felt like the natural next step \u2013 the moment when a quiet phenom from Dagestan finally entered the global stage. He prepared for his debut alongside Khabib at the American Kickboxing Academy, sharpening the tools he would soon bring to the world\u2019s toughest roster.<\/p>\n

His UFC introduction came against Leo Kuntz. It didn\u2019t last long. Makhachev dominated the fight, secured a quick finish, and celebrated a milestone that was significant for more than one reason: Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, the architect of the Dagestani fighting dynasty, was in his corner. It was the first \u2013 and, as it turned out, the last \u2013 time he would coach Islam in the United States. Soon after, Abdulmanap\u2019s visa was revoked without explanation, and he watched from afar as Islam suffered the lone loss of his career: a sudden knockout at the hands of Adriano Martins.<\/p>\n

Islam never hid from that moment.
<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI thought nobody could stop me,\u201d<\/em> he admitted later. \u201cBut this is MMA\u00a0\u2013 small gloves, one punch can change everything. I changed a lot after that fight.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

What followed was a stretch of adversity that would have derailed most young prospects.<\/p>\n

In early 2016, he dominated the Russian combat sambo championships without giving up a single point. But weeks later, a scheduled UFC fight was canceled when USADA flagged his test for meldonium \u2013 a medication he had taken legally after heart surgery and stopped before it was added to the banned list. After reviewing the case, the agency cleared him completely, and the UFC backed him publicly.<\/p>\n

Once reinstated, he beat Chris Wade in September, then finally captured his long-desired world title in combat sambo that November \u2013 a rare accomplishment for a contracted UFC fighter, and one he refused to give up. More wins followed: a wrestling clinic over Nick Lentz, two highlight-reel finishes against Gleison Tibau and Kajan Johnson, and a nine-month layoff that set the stage for a historic matchup.<\/p>\n

In St. Petersburg, Islam faced Arman Tsarukyan \u2013 a 22-year-old prospect who took the fight on two weeks\u2019 notice and delivered one of the most impressive debuts of the year. The two Russians produced a high-level grappling duel that earned Fight of the Night, extended Makhachev\u2019s streak to five, and put Tsarukyan on the map.<\/p>\n

But injuries, travel restrictions, and reluctance from ranked contenders slowed his ascent. And then came the hardest blow of his career \u2013 the passing of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Islam did not fight once in 2020.<\/p>\n

When he returned in 2021, he came back like a man who had something to prove.<\/p>\n

He submitted Drew Dober with his first career arm-triangle.
Four months later, he went past 15 minutes for the first time and choked out ranked lightweight Thiago Moises.<\/p>\n

A third fight that year \u2013 against late-replacement Dan Hooker \u2013 lasted just over three minutes. Under Khabib\u2019s calm instructions, Makhachev took Hooker down, stretched him out, shut down every escape, and finished with a clean kimura.<\/p>\n

That win earned him a long-awaited title eliminator. When Beneil Dariush withdrew, Bobby Green stepped in \u2013 and Makhachev dismantled him in three and a half minutes. It was his tenth straight victory. At that moment, only Kamaru Usman carried a longer active winning streak in the entire promotion.<\/p>\n

And no fighter in UFC history had ever needed a run that long just to get their first shot at the belt.<\/p>\n

Becoming champion \u2013 and beating the best<\/strong><\/h2>\n

UFC 280 delivered something the sport had never seen before: two fighters entering the Octagon on double-digit win streaks. One of those streaks had to end. Midway through the second round, Islam Makhachev slipped under Charles Oliveira\u2019s attack, dropped him cleanly, and \u2013 unlike most lightweights \u2013 didn\u2019t hesitate to follow the submission king to the mat. Seconds later, the arm-triangle was locked, the tap came, and the lightweight division had a new champion.<\/p>\n

Islam dedicated the win to Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov and symbolically returned the belt to the team that had never lost it in the cage. And then Khabib grabbed the microphone \u2013 planting the seed for the biggest fight the UFC could make at the time: Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski, the No.1 and No.2 pound-for-pound fighters in the world.<\/p>\n

Just four months later, they headlined a historic superfight.
It wasn\u2019t dripping with UFC-style theatrics, but from a pure sporting standpoint, it was the best matchup imaginable. Volkanovski charged forward relentlessly, forcing Islam to make quick adjustments to the featherweight champion\u2019s explosiveness and unusual frame. Once he did, Makhachev put him on a knee, took his back, and ended the opening round in full control.<\/p>\n

That became the rhythm of the fight.<\/p>\n

Volkanovski had his moments \u2013 especially in the exchanges \u2013 and became one of the few opponents ever to challenge Islam in the wrestling scrambles. The turning point came late in Round 4: a perfectly timed shot, a smooth back take, and three and a half minutes of tight control that silenced the Australian crowd and visibly frustrated their hero. Fired up, Volkanovski stormed through the final round, denied takedowns, pushed the pace, and even dropped Islam in the closing seconds. It was a dramatic finish, but not enough. All three judges scored the fight for Makhachev.<\/p>\n

A rematch felt inevitable \u2013 and fate moved faster than the matchmaking board. Eleven days before UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, Charles Oliveira withdrew with a deep cut. Volkanovski answered the call immediately. Islam didn\u2019t blink. His response now hangs on the wall at the UFC PI in Las Vegas:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhat is a title? It means you\u2019re the best in the world. And if you\u2019re the best in the world, it doesn\u2019t matter who stands in front of you. You think I would say no? Never.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

No one expected the rematch to end in three minutes.
Islam feinted high, fired a head kick, reset \u2013 and then landed the same kick clean. Volkanovski never recovered. The ref hesitated, but the fight was over.<\/p>\n

Before him, only Khabib Nurmagomedov had beaten three straight pound-for-pound contenders. Makhachev went one step further: three consecutive wins over opponents ranked in the UFC\u2019s top three, pound for pound.<\/p>\n

That level of dominance is almost impossible to replicate.
In just twelve months, Makhachev delivered three title defenses, earned three performance bonuses, and snapped opponents\u2019 win streaks of 11 and 12 in a row. Weeks after the second Volkanovski fight, he rose to No.1 in the pound-for-pound rankings, swept every major Fighter of the Year award, and became a bona fide global star \u2013 despite never having defended his belt on US soil.<\/p>\n

And that became the next goal: a title fight in America.<\/p>\n

Two more defenses \u2013 and the end of a division<\/strong><\/h2>\n

For UFC 302, the promotion had only one problem: finding someone actually available to fight Islam Makhachev. Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Arman Tsarukyan were all locked into UFC 300 and couldn\u2019t make a quick turnaround. That opened the door for a man no one expected to see in another title fight \u2013 but whose name still carried the weight of a legend. Dustin Poirier stepped in.<\/p>\n

Round one was all Islam. A clean takedown, a deep kimura attempt, and more than three minutes on Poirier\u2019s back. It looked like another routine title defense.<\/p>\n

Then the fight turned.<\/p>\n

Poirier refused to stay down. The striking exchanges grew sharper. And by Round 4, Poirier had sliced Makhachev open, turning the bout into a tense, tactical battle. Heading into the fifth, many had it 2\u20132.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s when champions separate themselves. Islam pushed the pace, forced a scramble that lasted fourteen grinding seconds, and finally dragged Poirier to the mat. The guillotine threat came first, then the D\u2019Arce choke \u2013 and Poirier couldn\u2019t escape. Submission victory.<\/p>\n

With that win, Makhachev joined one of the rarest clubs in UFC history: fighters who have finished opponents with at least five different submissions. He also picked up both Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night \u2013 giving him five bonuses in just four title fights \u2013 and tied the lightweight record for title defenses. Then he said it plainly: he was coming for a second belt.<\/p>\n

But there was unfinished business at lightweight.<\/p>\n

The next challenger was Arman Tsarukyan \u2013 a rematch years in the making. Fate intervened: Tsarukyan pulled out a day before their January booking due to back issues.<\/p>\n

Renato Moicano stepped in on short notice.<\/p>\n

The Brazilian poked Islam in the eye, stunned him in a wild exchange that had the crowd roaring \u2013 and then got caught. Makhachev locked up the submission, closed the show, and officially became the most decorated lightweight in UFC history.<\/p>\n

Most title wins. Most title defenses. Longest win streak in the division\u2019s history. Even with legends like B.J. Penn and Khabib, no lightweight had ever put together a resume like this.<\/p>\n

Six months later, the belt became vacant. Makhachev walked away from his throne \u2013 and toward the dream he had been chasing for years: a\u00a0second UFC championship.<\/p>\n

The night the dream became real<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Standing between Islam Makhachev and his long-promised place in history was Jack Della Maddalena \u2013 an elite Australian striker riding an 18-fight win streak, including eight inside the UFC. In his last outing, he\u2019d beaten Bilal Muhammad, a close friend and teammate of Makhachev, stuffing takedowns and dictating the fight on the feet. That performance only amplified the intrigue: could one of the best boxers in the sport halt Islam\u2019s run at a second belt?<\/p>\n

As soon as the cage door shut inside Madison Square Garden, that question disappeared.<\/p>\n

Makhachev opened with low kicks, while Della Maddalena surged forward with his trademark pressure. Islam slipped every clean shot \u2013 and one minute in, hit his first takedown. It landed effortlessly. He immediately hunted for an arm-triangle, forced the Aussie to scramble, and kept him pinned while mixing in steady ground-and-pound. Della Maddalena tried repeatedly to stand; Islam denied every attempt. Back control, half guard, submission threats \u2013 Round 1 was one-way traffic.<\/p>\n

The second round didn\u2019t look any different. Della Maddalena flicked out his jab, but Islam pressed him to the fence, shrugged off a surprise throw attempt from the Australian, and once again took top position. Whenever they drifted into open space, Makhachev dragged him back into the mat. He floated through positions, punished openings, and kept chaining attacks without giving Jack a heartbeat to breathe.<\/p>\n

\n
\n Jack Della Maddalena of Australia fights against Islam Makhachev in a welterweight title bout during UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2025 in New York City.<\/p>\n


\n \u00a9\u00a0 Ishika Samant \/ Getty Images <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Between rounds, Khabib told him one thing: don\u2019t brawl.
Islam listened. He picked his shots carefully, landed the cleaner strikes, and \u2013 two minutes in \u2013 put Della Maddalena flat on his back again.<\/p>\n

The pattern held. Third round: takedown, control, submission pressure. Fourth round: another smooth lift in the third minute, back take, a tight rear-naked-choke attempt, then a shift into half guard for an arm lock.
Every sequence ended the same way: Makhachev on top, Della Maddalena trapped, surviving but unable to escape.<\/p>\n

The final round began with the Australian charging forward, desperate to turn the tide. Makhachev stopped him cold with another transition to the mat and attacked yet another submission. Della Maddalena hung on, but the story of the fight was already written. He could fight \u2013 but he couldn\u2019t get Islam off of him.<\/p>\n

When the scorecards were read at Madison Square Garden, the record books needed rewriting. Islam Makhachev had just become the first Russian fighter ever to win UFC titles in two divisions \u2013 and he did it with the same cold efficiency that defined every chapter of his rise.<\/p>\n

The greatest of his era \u2013 and maybe of all time<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Sixteen straight UFC victories.
Three consecutive wins over top-three pound-for-pound opponents.
Multiple submissions no lightweight before him had ever pulled off.
A complete takeover of one of the deepest, most competitive divisions the sport has ever seen.<\/p>\n

And now a belt in a second weight class.<\/p>\n

You can argue about greatness in MMA forever \u2013 and fans do. Some will point to Anderson Silva\u2019s artistry, Georges St-Pierre\u2019s discipline, Jon Jones\u2019 longevity, Khabib\u2019s perfection. But none of them built a resume quite like this. None of them climbed through a prime-generation lightweight division while beating elite grapplers, elite strikers, and elite hybrid fighters in every possible style of fight. None of them stood alone atop the pound-for-pound rankings while actively hunting challenges outside their division. And none of them racked up this level of dominance in their absolute prime.<\/p>\n

\n
\n Islam Makhachev of Russia rides on the shoulders of Khabib Nurmagomedov and reacts to his win over Jack Della Maddalena of Australia in the UFC welterweight championship fight during the UFC 322 event at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2025 in New York City.<\/p>\n


\n \u00a9\u00a0 Jeff Bottari \/ Zuffa LLC <\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So what comes next for the most decorated champion of his era? The middleweight division Islam Makhachev just entered offers a clearer picture than any other weight class of what modern MMA has become: a shark tank of explosive athletes, ruthless strikers, and hybrid technicians who can end a fight with a single mistake. Behind the new two-division champion stretches a line of contenders hungry for their shot \u2013 while the new lightweight king, Ilia Topuria, now a dual champion himself, openly teases a run at a third<\/em> belt. The sport is changing fast, and its elite are no longer content to rule one kingdom.<\/p>\n

Makhachev remains exactly who he\u2019s always been: ready for anyone, anytime, without theatrics or negotiation. But he does have one condition for his next appearance \u2013 a historic one. The UFC is preparing a landmark event at the White House in the summer of 2026, and Islam made it clear where he wants to plant his flag.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cDonald Trump, let\u2019s go, open the White House! I\u2019m coming,\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

he said before leaving the Octagon, smiling through the noise, a man who knows that his story isn\u2019t close to finished.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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