Few athletes in mixed martial arts have risen as steadily and methodically as Islam Makhachev. From his early days training in Dagestan to becoming the UFC lightweight champion, his journey is defined by precision and dominance.

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Record: 28-1-0 ·
Height: 5’10” (178 cm) ·
Weight: 170 lbs (77 kg) ·
Reach: 70 in (178 cm) ·
Age: 34 (born Oct 27, 1991)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Net worth — not publicly disclosed
  • Exact training regimen — limited public data
3Timeline signal
  • 2025: Defeated Jack Della Maddalena to become 11th double champion (ESPN sports news)
4What’s next

Ten key identifiers define Islam Makhachev’s profile, from his birth in Dagestan to his championship status.

Label Value
Full Name Islam Makhachev
Date of Birth October 27, 1991
Height 5’10” (178 cm)
Weight 170 lbs (77 kg)
Reach 70 in (178 cm)
Record 28-1-0
Stance Southpaw
Team Eagles MMA
Championship UFC Lightweight Champion
Sambo Achievements Combat Sambo World Champion (2016), Two-time Russian National Champion (2014, 2016)

What is Islam Makhachev’s next fight?

Islam Makhachev is scheduled to face Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 on November 15, 2025, according to UFC Stats official fight records. The bout is set for the lightweight division (155 lbs).

Who is his next opponent?

  • Jack Della Maddalena, an Australian welterweight contender moving up in weight.
  • Maddalena holds a 17-2 record and is known for his striking.

When and where will the fight take place?

  • Date: November 15, 2025
  • Event: UFC 322 — location to be announced.

What weight class will the fight be in?

  • The fight is at lightweight (155 lbs), Makhachev’s championship division.
The upshot

Makhachev will defend his lightweight title against a dangerous striker, testing his takedown-heavy game against elite kickboxing.

What is Islam Makhachev’s professional record?

How many wins by submission?

Of his 28 wins, 11 have come by submission (Tapology fight database). His signature rear-naked choke has ended seven fights.

How many wins by KO?

Makhachev has 5 wins by knockout or TKO.

How many title defenses?

He has 4 successful title defenses, the most in UFC lightweight division history (Wikipedia fighter encyclopedia).

Makhachev holds the UFC lightweight record for longest winning streak (14) and most title-fight victories (5) (Wikipedia).

Why this matters

His 16-fight overall win streak ties Anderson Silva’s legendary run, placing Makhachev in the conversation for greatest UFC fighter ever (Wikipedia).

Has Islam Makhachev ever lost a fight?

Who defeated him?

His only loss came against Adriano Martins by knockout at UFC 192 on October 3, 2015 (Tapology).

When did the loss occur?

The loss happened early in his UFC career, during his second fight with the promotion.

How did the fight end?

Martins landed a left hook that dropped Makhachev in the first round, ending the fight at 1:46.

Since that defeat, Makhachev has won 14 consecutive fights, demonstrating remarkable improvement and composure (Wikipedia).

The paradox

The only blemish on his record came from a fighter who would later be released from the UFC — a reminder that in MMA, one punch can change everything.

How tall is Islam Makhachev?

What is his height in centimeters?

Islam Makhachev stands 5 feet 10 inches tall, which is 178 cm (Wikipedia).

How does his height compare to other lightweight fighters?

At 5’10”, he is slightly taller than the average UFC lightweight (5’9″) but shorter than lanky fighters like Dustin Poirier (5’9″) or Charles Oliveira (5’10”). His 70-inch reach (178 cm) is exactly average for the division (UFC Stats).

Does his height affect his fighting style?

Makhachev’s reach is not exceptional, so he relies on forward pressure and level changes rather than long-range striking. His southpaw stance creates awkward angles for opponents (Wikipedia).

Five physical stats, one takeaway: Makhachev’s build is compact and suited for explosive takedowns rather than reach-based striking.

Attribute Measurement
Height 5’10” (178 cm)
Weight 170 lbs (77 kg)
Reach 70 in (178 cm)
Leg reach — not specified
Stance Southpaw

What is Islam Makhachev’s religion?

Is he a Muslim?

Yes, Islam Makhachev is a devout Muslim. He was born in Makhachkala, Dagestan, a republic of Russia with a predominantly Muslim population (Wikipedia).

How does his faith influence his training?

His faith is private but reportedly guides his discipline and work ethic. Like his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev credits his upbringing in a Muslim region for instilling a strong sense of community and self-discipline.

What are his religious practices?

He has been seen performing prayers after fights and during training camps, consistent with Islamic tradition.

Timeline signal

  • 1991: Born in Dagestan, Russia
  • 2010: Began professional MMA career
  • 2014: Won Russian national champion at 74 kg
  • 2016: Became combat sambo world champion
  • 2022: Defeated Charles Oliveira to win UFC Lightweight title
  • 2023: Defended title against Alexander Volkanovski (twice)
  • 2025: Current pound-for-pound best and lightweight champion; defeated Jack Della Maddalena to become 11th double champion (ESPN)

Clarity: Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Record: 28-1-0 (Tapology)
  • Height: 5’10” (Wikipedia)
  • Weight: 170 lbs (ESPN)
  • Age: 34 (born Oct 27, 1991)
  • UFC Lightweight Champion
  • Combat Sambo World Champion (2016)

What’s unclear

  • Net worth
  • Exact training regimen

Summary: For fans and analysts tracking Makhachev’s next move, the data is clear — a dominant champion with one early loss and a historic win streak. The unanswered questions (net worth, daily training details) are trivia, not gaps. For the UFC lightweight division, the choice is clear: either dethrone the king or watch him continue to rewrite records.

Additional sources

ufcstats.com, ufc.com, facebook.com, youtube.com, youtube.com

Fans interested in a deeper breakdown can explore Islam Makhachevs full career statistics for a detailed look at his UFC record and upcoming bout.

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Frequently asked questions

How did Islam Makhachev start his MMA career?

He began training in Sambo and MMA at age 10 in Dagestan, influenced by his father and later by coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov (Wikipedia).

What is Islam Makhachev’s net worth?

Not publicly disclosed. Estimates range from $2–5 million, but no verified figures exist.

Who is Islam Makhachev’s coach?

He trains under Javier Mendez at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) and is part of Eagles MMA (Wikipedia).

What is Islam Makhachev’s signature move?

His signature technique is the rear-naked choke, which he has used to finish seven fights (Tapology).

Does Islam Makhachev have any children?

Yes, he has a son born in 2022, but he keeps his family life private.

What is Islam Makhachev’s Instagram handle?

His official Instagram is @islam_makhachev (verified).

How many title defenses does Islam Makhachev have?

He has 4 successful title defenses, the most in UFC lightweight history (Wikipedia).

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