UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has lost just once in a 26-bout MMA career. Makhachev has won his last 13 bouts including three straight world title fights.
Makhachev made his UFC debut at UFC 187 where he submitted Leo Kuntz. Islam lost his second UFC bout as he was knocked out by Adriano Martins at UFC 192. Since then he’s won 13 straight bouts inside the Octagon. Among the victories, here are the five that stand out.
Islam Makhachev vs Charles Oliveira UFC 280
Makhachev ascended to the top of the UFC lightweight division when he defeated Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 to become the UFC lightweight champion. Oliveira was the 155-pound king before Makhachev. He was stripped of the belt after missing weight when he fought Justin Gaethje at UFC 274. Charles beat Justin and so the title became vacant. Oliveira’s win over Gaethje was his 11th consecutive victory. Ten of his wins during that stretch were via stoppage with only Tony Ferguson going the distance with him.
But at UFC 280, Makhachev made short work of Oliveira. Islam needed just over three minutes to dispose of the former champion, outlanding him 30-19 in total significant strikes landed. Makhachev also took down Oliveira twice, submitting him via arm-triangle choke on the second takedown completion. The win is by far the biggest of Islam’s career.
Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkanovski 2 UFC 294
After winning the UFC lightweight title, Islam Makhachev set up a super fight with then-UFC featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski. Volk had already cleaned up his weight class and had literally no more legit challenger there. So he decided to move up in weight and challenge Islam.
Surprisingly, the Australian gave Makhachev as tough fight at UFC 284 in Australia. Although Islam was victorious, he needed all five rounds to do so with the judges scoring the bout 49-46, 48-47, 48-47. Makhahev drew flak for the performance but during their rematch at UFC 294, a more focused Makhachev dismantled Volkanovski inside one round in a Performance of the Night-winning performance that validated his status as the best lightweight on the planet.
Islam Makhachev vs Dan Hooker UFC 267
Islam Makhachev was already a star when he entered the UFC. He was a popular fighter coming from the M-1 promotion and had won eight consecutive bouts in the UFC after suffering a shocking knockout loss to Adriano Martins at UFC 192. However, his win over Hooker was his first against a highly-ranked opponent.
Although Hangman has never fought for a UFC belt, the Auckland native is one of the staple fighters in the UFC’s lightweight division. A former champion at the King of the Ring and WKBF-X Rules promotions, Hooker is one of the toughest fighters in the UFC. But Islam needed less than three minutes to submit Hooker via Kimura and pick up his 9th consecutive UFC win.
Islam Makhachev vs Gleison Tibau UFC 220
Islam Makhachev is known for his grappling and wrestling skills. When he joined the UFC, five of his last 8 wins were via submission so he was known as a submission artist. However, he was suspect on the feet and proof of this was his UFC 192 loss to Adriano Martins during his second UFC bout where he was knocked out with a punch during a stand-up exchange.
At UFC 220, Islam faced veteran Gleison Tibau. The Brazilian was never a top contender, however, he was a durable fighter who had been knocked out only three times before he fought Makhachev. But in what was his first knockout win in the UFC, Islam landed a massive punch less than a minute into their fight that put Tibau to sleep. The end came at 57 seconds in round one and is Islam’s fastest win in the UFC.
Islam Makhachev vs Drew Dober UFC 259
Islam Makhachev won seven out of his first eight UFC bouts but despite an impressive mark, he had not faced elite opposition. Most UFC observers agree that Islam’s first true test in the Octagon was Drew Dober.
Dober is one of the UFC’s best knockout artists in the 155-pound weight class. His 9 knockouts in the lightweight division are tied with Dustin Poirier for the most ever. But Dober has a history of losing via submission with his previous three losses prior to the Islam fight all by way of submission. Well, Dober battled Makhachev for two-plus rounds before Islam locked in an arm-triangle choke that gave him the victory and his first big win in the Octagon.