Islam Makhachev

Makhachev used repeated takedowns, mat returns and top control to defeat Jack Della Maddalena by unanimous decision at UFC 322.

Key moments

• Makhachev's first level change produces the opening takedown and establishes the fight's grappling pattern.
• Mat returns and fence control keep Della Maddalena from sustaining the open-space boxing exchanges he needs.
• After five rounds, all three judges score the fight 50-45 for Makhachev.

Makhachev turned Renato Moicano's short-notice title challenge into a grappling exchange and finished him with a D'Arce choke at 4:05 of round one.

Key moments

• Makhachev closes distance and settles into top control after the opening exchanges.
• Moicano defends the first submission threat but remains trapped under Makhachev's front-headlock pressure.
• Makhachev locks the D'Arce choke and forces the tap at 4:05 of round one.

Makhachev controlled the fight on the feet and on the mat across five gruelling rounds before sinking in a D'Arce choke late in the championship rounds to finish Poirier and retain his title in his toughest defence to date.

Key moments

• Controlled Poirier with wrestling and top pressure across five rounds.
• Locked in the D'Arce choke late in round five for the submission finish.
• Retained the lightweight title against one of the division's most decorated challengers.

Makhachev defended his lightweight title in a highly competitive five-round battle, controlling the fight with his wrestling while surviving Volkanovski's dangerous counter-striking to win a unanimous decision in Australia.

Key moments

• Controlled the majority of exchanges with wrestling and top pressure.
• Survived Volkanovski's sharp counter-striking to manage distance throughout.
• Won by unanimous decision to make his first successful title defence.

Makhachev survived early submission danger from Oliveira — including a tight guillotine in round one — then secured his own arm-triangle choke in round two to become the undisputed UFC Lightweight Champion.

Key moments

• Survived an early guillotine attempt from Oliveira in round one.
• Secured the arm-triangle choke finish in round two to win the title.
• Became the UFC Lightweight Champion, continuing the Dagestani dominance of the division.

Against a Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist known for dangerous submissions, Makhachev controlled the grappling exchanges throughout, avoiding Ramos's attempts from the bottom and winning a clear unanimous decision.

Key moments

• Controlled the grappling against a dangerous submission specialist.
• Neutralised Ramos's jiu-jitsu threats while maintaining top position.
• Won a clean unanimous decision to move to eight fights without a loss since his only defeat.

The fight was competitive and chaotic — Tsarukyan pushed the pace and created scrambles throughout — but Makhachev's submission attempts and overall control earned him the unanimous decision. Both fighters received Fight of the Night bonuses.

Key moments

• Survived being taken down by Tsarukyan, the first time he had been taken down in the UFC.
• Consistently threatened with submission attempts from various positions throughout the fight.
• Won a unanimous decision in a Fight of the Night performance against the best UFC debut in years.

Makhachev shot for a takedown and secured top position before isolating Johnson's arm for a quick armbar submission in the opening round.

Key moments

• Secured the takedown and transitioned to the armbar quickly.
• Finished by armbar at 3:20 of round one.
• Islam Makhachev recorded a win over Kajan Johnson.

Makhachev imposed his wrestling game from the opening bell, controlling Wade and winning a clear unanimous decision to move to 3-1 in the UFC.

Key moments

• Dominated with wrestling and top control throughout.
• Won a unanimous decision to bounce back from his only UFC loss.
• Islam Makhachev recorded a win over Chris Wade.

Makhachev debuted in the UFC with a wrestling-heavy performance, taking Kuntz down repeatedly before finishing with a rear-naked choke late in round two.

Key moments

• Controlled the fight with wrestling and takedowns throughout.
• Finished with a rear-naked choke at 4:47 of round two on UFC debut.
• Islam Makhachev recorded a win over Leo Kuntz.

At the inaugural Siberian Fighting Championship, Makhachev worked to the back late in the first round and locked in a rear-naked choke for his fourth submission finish, capping a year in which he went 4-0.

Key moments

• Worked to the back late in the first round.
• Secured the rear-naked choke at 4:25 for the submission win.
• Islam Makhachev recorded a win over Migel Grigoryan.

Back in the Dagestani regional promotion where he had debuted, Makhachev submitted Magomed Ibragimov with a triangle choke in round two, adding to a submission repertoire that already spanned armbars and rear-naked chokes.

Key moments

• Controlled the first round before hunting submissions.
• Locked in the triangle choke at 3:15 of round two.
• Islam Makhachev recorded a win over Magomed Ibragimov.

A first-round TKO at ProFC 28 demonstrated that the then-19-year-old Makhachev could also finish with striking.

Key moments

• Landed damaging punches to hurt Grigoryan early in the first round.
• Forced the referee stoppage at 2:52 of round one.
• Islam Makhachev recorded a win over Martiros Grigoryan.

Makhachev appeared on an M-1 Global card and delivered a first-round knockout, dropping Khuchua with punches and finishing with ground-and-pound for his second professional win.

Key moments

• Dropped Khuchua with punches in the opening round.
• Finished with ground-and-pound for the first-round KO.
• Islam Makhachev recorded a win over Tengiz Khuchua.