Islam Makhachev’s career statistics in the UFC

Let’s take a closer look at his career statistics in the UFC. 

Early Career and Rise to Prominence

Making his debut in 2015, Makhachev got his UFC career off to a winning start, defeating Leo Kintz via submission. With that being said, it wasn’t an all-round enjoyable year for the Russian, suffering his only career defeat to Adriano Martins later that same year. Nevertheless, at the time of writing, his current win streak stands at 14 consecutive wins. He has nine wins by way of submission, showcasing his propensity to grapple and defeat opponents on the ground. 

The Khabib Nurmagomedov Effect

The bond Islam shares with the former lightweight champion goes far beyond just simply training partners. Growing up together in the same environment, sharing the same ideology in elite wrestling and approaching the combat world with a like-minded aggression, Khabib has often expressed his confidence in seeing Islam as his rightful successor.

In an incredibly short space of time Islam has become a household name, beating the likes of Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier and Alexander Volkanovski twice. Claiming and successfully defending the UFC Lightweight Championship– he is widely regarded as one of the best in the business.

Fighting Style and Strengths

Although he is often seen as a wrestler reliant on submission, his striking ability has drastically improved. His fighting style is undeniably influenced by his Sambo background and sees him combine a grappling ability with a suffocating pressure and relentless aggression. 

A true blend of both grappling ability and striking power results in an athlete who is both well-rounded and harmfully dangerous inside the octagon. 

Final Thoughts 

He is a fighter who has quickly proved himself as one of the most dominant in the business. It might be early to make this claim, but Islam Makhachev’s legacy in the UFC is being documented before our eyes. 

Can anyone put a stop to his reign? Only time will tell.