Islam Makhachev: the record explained
Islam Makhachev’s Record at a Glance
Islam Makhachev’s professional MMA record is 29 wins, 1 loss, 0 draws. In the UFC specifically, his record is 18-1. He is the reigning UFC Welterweight Champion and the most dominant active fighter in the sport.
Quick summary:
| Record type | Wins | Losses | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional (all fights) | 29 | 1 | 0 |
| UFC only | 18 | 1 | 0 |
Win breakdown (pro):
– KO/TKO: 5 (17%)
– Submission: 13 (45%)
– Decision: 11 (38%)
Current UFC win streak: 17 — the longest active win streak in UFC history, surpassing Anderson Silva’s 16-fight record.
The One Loss: What Happened?
Islam Makhachev has one loss on his professional record. It happened on October 3, 2015, at UFC 192 in Houston, Texas.
The fight: Islam Makhachev vs. Adriano Martins (Brazil)
Result: Loss by KO/TKO | Round 1 | 1:46
Makhachev was 23 years old, in only his second UFC bout. Martins, a Brazilian fighter with a background in striking, caught him early with a punching combination that put him down before the first minute and a half had elapsed. The referee stopped the fight.
It remains the only time in his career that Makhachev has been finished. In the 11 years since that fight, he has not come close to another stoppage loss — opponents have not been able to hurt him or hold him down. He went on to win his very next fight and never looked back.
What this tells us: The loss happened when Makhachev was a young fighter still developing his UFC game. It is the statistical outlier of a record that, across the next 17 fights, has been nearly flawless.
Full Professional Fight Record
Islam Makhachev’s professional career began on August 1, 2010, in Dagestan, Russia. His debut was against Magomed Bekbolatov. He went 10-1 before entering the UFC in 2015.
Pre-UFC Career (2010–2015): 10-1
Makhachev built his early record in Russian regional promotions, developing the combat sambo and wrestling base that defines his game. His one early loss is his only professional career loss — Adriano Martins in the UFC in 2015.
UFC Career: 18-1
| Fight # | Opponent | Result | Method | Event | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leo Kuntz | Win | Sub R1 | UFC Fight Night | May 23, 2015 |
| 2 | Adriano Martins | Loss | KO R1 | UFC 192 | Oct 3, 2015 |
| 3 | Gleison Tibau | Win | Sub R1 | UFC 192 | Oct 3, 2015* |
| 4 | Nik Lentz | Win | Dec | UFC Fight Night | Jun 25, 2016 |
| 5 | Marcin Held | Win | Sub R1 | UFC Fight Night | Apr 14, 2018 |
| 6 | Kajan Johnson | Win | Sub R2 | UFC 223 | Apr 7, 2018 |
| 7 | Davi Ramos | Win | Dec | UFC 242 | Sep 7, 2019 |
| 8 | Arman Tsarukyan | Win | Dec | UFC 267 | Oct 30, 2021* |
| 9 | Drew Dober | Win | Sub R3 | UFC Fight Night | May 15, 2021 |
| 10 | Thiago Moises | Win | Sub R4 | UFC Fight Night | Jul 17, 2021 |
| 11 | Dan Hooker | Win | Sub R1 | UFC 267 | Oct 30, 2021 |
| 12 | Bobby Green | Win | TKO R1 | UFC Fight Night | Feb 26, 2022 |
| 13 | Charles Oliveira | Win | Sub R2 | UFC 280 | Oct 22, 2022 |
| 14 | Alexander Volkanovski | Win | Sub R2 | UFC 284 | Feb 11, 2023 |
| 15 | Alexander Volkanovski | Win | Dec R5 | UFC 294 | Oct 21, 2023 |
| 16 | Dustin Poirier | Win | Sub R3 | UFC 302 | Jun 1, 2024 |
| 17 | Arman Tsarukyan | Win | Dec R5 | UFC 311 | Jan 18, 2025 |
| 18 | Jack Della Maddalena | Win | Sub R3 | UFC 322 | Nov 15, 2025 |
| 19 | Ian Machado Garry | Win | Dec R5 | UFC 330 | Aug 15, 2026 |
Note: Fight dates are approximate in some early career entries — the UFC debut (Leo Kuntz, May 23, 2015) and loss (Adriano Martins, Oct 3, 2015) are confirmed. His complete chronological fight log, including his pre-UFC regional bouts, can be verified on Tapology or MMA.SOCIAL.
Islam Makhachev’s UFC Stats
| Stat | Figure |
|---|---|
| UFC fights | 19 |
| UFC wins | 18 |
| UFC losses | 1 |
| Finish rate (UFC) | ~61% |
| Current win streak | 17 |
| Title fight record | 7-0 |
| Wins by submission | 8 |
| Wins by KO/TKO | 3 |
| Wins by decision | 7 |
Makhachev has never been submitted in his professional career and has only been stopped once — by Adriano Martins in 2015.
The 17-Fight Win Streak: Why It Matters
Islam Makhachev’s current UFC win streak of 17 consecutive victories is the longest active win streak in UFC history. He surpassed Anderson Silva’s record of 16 consecutive UFC wins, which Silva set between 2006 and 2012.
What makes the streak notable isn’t just the number — it’s the quality of opposition:
- He beat Charles Oliveira, then considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, to claim the lightweight title at UFC 280.
- He beat Alexander Volkanovski twice — Volkanovski being widely regarded as pound-for-pound No. 1 at the time of their first fight.
- He defended the lightweight title four times, then vacated it to move up to welterweight.
- He beat Jack Della Maddalena (UFC 322, November 2025) to become the UFC Welterweight Champion in only his first fight at 170 pounds, making him a two-division champion.
- He defended the welterweight title against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 (August 2026) in a dominant five-round unanimous decision.
His finish rate (61%) and submission rate (45% of professional wins) reflect the same combat sambo base that made Khabib Nurmagomedov famous, but with more striking versatility added through his time at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA).
Islam Makhachev: Fighter Profile
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full name | Islam Makhachev |
| Born | October 27, 1991 |
| Birthplace | Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Reach | 70–70.5 in (178–179 cm) |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Weight class | Welterweight (170 lb) — previously Lightweight (155 lb) |
| Pro debut | August 1, 2010 |
| UFC debut | May 23, 2015 |
| Fighting style | Combat sambo, wrestling, grappling |
| Teams | AKA (American Kickboxing Academy), Eagles MMA |
| Coaches | Khabib Nurmagomedov, Javier Mendez, the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov |
| Current title | UFC Welterweight Champion |
Makhachev was born and raised in Dagestan — the same region that produced Khabib Nurmagomedov, who was both a training partner from their youth and is now one of his coaches. The relationship gives him arguably the best game-planning support in MMA.
Two-Division Champion: How He Got There
When Makhachev became UFC Lightweight Champion at UFC 280 in October 2022, the expectation was a long, dominant reign at 155 pounds. He delivered exactly that — four successful title defenses over three years, including two wins over Volkanovski and victories over Poirier and Tsarukyan.
But in late 2025, Makhachev made the move up to welterweight. The reasons discussed publicly included the difficulty of making 155 pounds at his size and age, and the desire for a new challenge after running out of credible lightweight opponents. At UFC 322 (November 15, 2025), he faced Jack Della Maddalena, the Australian knockout artist who had been one of the most exciting fighters in the 170-pound division.
The result: Makhachev won by submission in round three, adding a welterweight belt to his legacy and becoming only one of a handful of fighters in UFC history to hold titles in two weight classes simultaneously or consecutively.
His first welterweight title defense came at UFC 330 on August 15, 2026, against Ian Machado Garry — another technical striker in the dangerous mold. Makhachev won by unanimous decision over five rounds, demonstrating that the move to 170 was not a one-off experiment.
Islam vs. Khabib: The Comparison
The single biggest topic in Makhachev discussions is how he compares to Khabib Nurmagomedov. Khabib retired in 2020 with a perfect 29-0 record and was widely considered the greatest lightweight of all time.
The debates across Sherdog forums and MMA communities generally land here:
Where Makhachev has advantages:
– He has fought at two weight classes; Khabib only competed at lightweight
– His submission rate and technique have arguably surpassed Khabib’s
– He has faced stronger pound-for-pound opposition (Volkanovski twice, Poirier, Oliveira)
– His active UFC win streak (17) has already surpassed Anderson Silva’s record that Khabib never matched
Where Khabib holds ground:
– Undefeated record (29-0 vs. Makhachev’s 29-1)
– Historical context — Khabib’s dominance redefined what grappling control looked like in MMA
– Khabib’s fight vs. McGregor carried a cultural weight no Makhachev fight has matched yet
Joe Rogan and other analysts have publicly stated that Makhachev has now surpassed Khabib in skill level, based on his striking improvements and range of opponents. This is, of course, an active debate — Khabib himself coaches Makhachev and has his own views on the comparison.
What’s Next for Islam Makhachev?
As of October 2026, no next fight has been officially announced for Makhachev. Reports surfaced in late 2026 of a potential bout at UFC 336 (January 30, 2027) against Carlos Prates, but that fight was reportedly pulled, with Prates moved into an interim title bout against Michael Morales instead.
The leading candidates for Makhachev’s next welterweight title defense, based on forum discussions and analyst rankings, include:
– Arman Tsarukyan — their second fight was competitive; a third at 170 would be intriguing
– Michael Morales — if Morales wins the interim title, a unification is natural
– Ilia Topuria — the featherweight champion has publicly expressed interest in moving up to fight Makhachev
– Belal Muhammad — the former welterweight champion
Any fight at this point would be significant. At 35 years old and with 29 professional wins, Makhachev is in the prime of his career and showing no signs of the chin erosion that eventually ends most fighters.
FAQ — Islam Makhachev Record
What is Islam Makhachev’s professional record?
Islam Makhachev’s professional MMA record is 29 wins, 1 loss, and 0 draws (29-1-0) as of October 2026.
What is Islam Makhachev’s UFC record?
His UFC-only record is 18 wins and 1 loss (18-1). He has competed in 19 UFC bouts total. His professional record includes 11 pre-UFC fights.
Who has Islam Makhachev lost to?
Islam Makhachev’s only career loss was to Adriano Martins of Brazil. It happened by KO/TKO in Round 1 (1:46) at UFC 192 on October 3, 2015. That is the only time in his career that he has been stopped.
Is Islam Makhachev undefeated?
No. He has one loss — to Adriano Martins in 2015. However, he has won 17 consecutive UFC fights since that defeat, which is the longest active win streak in UFC history.
What is Islam Makhachev’s current win streak?
Makhachev’s current win streak is 17 consecutive UFC victories (as of August 2026). This surpasses Anderson Silva’s 16-fight UFC win streak and is the longest in UFC history.
What titles does Islam Makhachev hold?
As of October 2026, Islam Makhachev holds the UFC Welterweight Championship. He previously held the UFC Lightweight Championship, which he vacated in 2025 when he moved up to welterweight. He is a two-division UFC champion.
How many knockouts does Islam Makhachev have?
Makhachev has 5 wins by KO/TKO in his professional career (17% of wins). He has 13 submission wins (45%) and 11 decision wins (38%). His submission game is his primary finishing weapon.
When was Islam Makhachev’s pro debut?
Islam Makhachev made his professional MMA debut on August 1, 2010, against Magomed Bekbolatov. His UFC debut was on May 23, 2015, against Leo Kuntz.
How old is Islam Makhachev?
Islam Makhachev was born on October 27, 1991. He turned 35 in October 2026.
How tall is Islam Makhachev and what is his reach?
Islam Makhachev is 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) tall. His reach is listed as 70 inches (Wikipedia/MMA.SOCIAL) or 70.5 inches (Tapology/Champinon) depending on the source. He fights out of a southpaw stance.
Is Islam Makhachev better than Khabib?
This is one of MMA’s most debated questions. Makhachev has surpassed Khabib’s UFC win streak and has competed at two weight classes. He has arguably faced stronger pound-for-pound opposition. But Khabib retired 29-0, and the cultural impact of his reign was different. Analysts like Joe Rogan have argued Makhachev has now exceeded Khabib’s skill level — Khabib himself, who coaches Makhachev, has not publicly made that claim.
When is Islam Makhachev’s next fight?
As of October 2026, no official next fight has been announced. A January 2027 bout at UFC 336 was discussed but reportedly withdrawn. Check UFC.com for confirmed scheduling.
