Islam Makhachev News

Adam D Martin - October 1, 2021

UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker confirmed that the UFC gave him extra money in order to fight Islam Makhachev at UFC 267. Hooker will step into the Octagon on short notice later this month when he faces off against Makhachev at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi. Hooker just fought last weekend at UFC 266 and he beat Nasrat Haqparast via decision, and he was expected to go home to New Zealand following the fight. But with the opportunity to face a top-five opponent in Makhachev out there, Hooker has made the decision to stay away from home and take the fight. It’s a decision that isn’t an easy one for Hooker, as he now has no idea when he will go back to New Zealand and see his family. But for the extra money that the UFC offered him to take the fight with Makhachev, Hooker believes that it was worth taking the fight.

Adam D Martin - October 1, 2021

Top-ranked UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev is heavily favored to defeat divisional rival Dan Hooker at UFC 267 later this month. Makhachev was supposed to fight Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 267, but RDA was forced to pull out of the fight with an injury. In his place steps Hooker, who is fresh off of a decision win over Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266 last weekend. With the UFC in a tough situation in regards to finding a suitable opponent to fight Makhachev, Hooker stepped up on short notice. The two lightweights will now meet later this month at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi.

Adam Martin - September 30, 2021

UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker has decided to step up on short notice, and he will face Islam Makhachev at UFC 267 next month. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto was the first to break the news that Hooker is fighting Makhachev at UFC 267. That’s according to UFC president Dana White, who confirmed the fight is set.

Adam Martin - September 26, 2021

Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos is injured and he has been forced to pull out of his UFC 267 fight against Islam Makhachev. Makhachev took to his social media on Sunday to message dos Anjos and tell him that he doesn’t believe he is actually injured. Dos Anjos then responded to his rival, telling him that he is indeed truly injured and he will not be able to make the walk next month at UFC 267.

Adam D Martin - August 13, 2021

Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos explained what makes Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev different fighters. Dos Anjos steps back into the Octagon on October 30 in Abu Dhabi when he faces off against Makhachev at UFC 267. This is a fight that the UFC tried to book twice in 2020 but was unable to do so due to COVID-19 and other injuries. Now that both fighters are fully healthy, dos Anjos and Makhachev will meet this fall in what is a potential No. 1 contender bout for the belt that Makhachev’s teammate Nurmagomedov held at this point a year ago.

Andrew Whitelaw - August 11, 2021

The notion that Islam Makhachev is a real problem for anyone in the UFC’s 155lb division has been floating around for a while. The Dagestani is currently riding an eight-fight winning streak including back-to-back submission victories in his last two encounters.

Drake Riggs - August 2, 2021

Islam Makhachev is officially set for his biggest fight yet as he and Rafael dos Anjos have been rebooked for an October showdown. ESPN broke the news on Monday that the pair of ranked lightweights are set to compete at UFC 267 on October 30 in Abu Dhabi. They were originally scheduled to clash twice in 2020. The first being for October only to fall through due to dos Anjos contracting COVID-19. Makhachev was then forced out with an injury when rebooked for a month later.

Harry Kettle - July 26, 2021

Rafael dos Anjos has responded to being labelled a grandpa by Islam Makhachev as their war of words continues. Makhachev and dos Anjos have been booked to fight one another on two separate occasions but due to COVID-19 and an injury setback, the bout hasn’t actually taken place. The two lightweights are viewed by many as great contenders in their own right, although there’s an argument to be made that RDA is the “past” and Makhachev is the future – based on the trajectory of their careers, that is.

Adam D Martin - July 22, 2021

Rafael dos Anjos says he wants to beat Islam Makhachev at UFC 267 and then get the rematch with his teammate Khabib Nurmagomedov. Dos Anjos and Nurmagomedov fought back in 2014, with Nurmagomedov winning the fight via unanimous decision. However, in a twist of fate, Nurmagomedov suffered an injury following that fight, and dos Anjos actually got the chance to fight for the UFC lightweight belt before him, defeating Anthony Pettis to take home the title in 2015. Dos Anjos would lose the belt in 2016 to Eddie Alvarez, and Nurmagomedov finally claimed it himself in 2018 when he defeated Al Iaquinta. Although Nurmagomedov is now retired from MMA, dos Anjos still wants this rematch one day in order to avenge his earlier career defeat.

Adam D Martin - July 21, 2021

The UFC Vegas 31 rankings update has dropped, and lightweight Islam Makhachev moved to No. 4 at 155lbs while Conor McGregor dropped to No. 9. Makhachev was the No. 9 ranked lightweight going into his main event matchup against No. 14 ranked Thiago Moises at last weekend’s UFC Vegas 31 event. After defeating Moises in the fourth round by submission to pick up his eighth straight win, the rankers rewarded the Russian for his long winning streak by bumping him up five spots all the way to No. 4 in the division. With Makhachev moving way up the rankings, someone else had to be bumped down. Tony Ferguson moved down to No. 6, Rafael dos Anjos moved to No. 7, and McGregor dropped all the way to No. 9. There was also a small swap at the bottom of the rankings as Arman Tsarukyan went to No. 14 and Moises fell down to the No. 15 spot.

Harry Kettle - July 20, 2021

UFC lightweight Dan Hooker has laid down a challenge to Islam Makhachev as their social media spat continues. This past Saturday night, Makhachev continued his rise up through the 155-pound ranks with a decisive win over Thiago Moises. He controlled the right all the way through until the fourth round when he was finally able to secure a strong submission victory, vaulting himself closer to a potential title shot in the near future.

Adam D Martin - July 19, 2021

Emerging title contender Islam Makhachev poked fun at his fellow lightweight contenders following their “radio silence” after his callouts. Makhachev defeated Thiago Moises via fourth-round submission in the main event of UFC Vegas 31 this past Saturday night to pick up his eighth straight win in the Octagon. With a 9-1 record now in the UFC, Makhachev has cemented himself as one of the elite lightweights in the sport. However, since he’s ranked No. 9 in the division, he needs to start fighting the fighters ranked higher than him if he wants to get a title shot. Some of those potential opponents include the likes of Michael Chandler, Tony Ferguson, and Rafael dos Anjos, all of who Makhachev called out following his big win over Moises on Saturday.

Adam Martin - July 18, 2021

UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev released a statement following his submission win over Thiago Moises at UFC Vegas 31. Makhachev defeated Moises in the fourth round with a rear-naked choke in his first UFC five-round main event. It was the eighth win in a row for the Russian and he improved his overall UFC record to 9-1 in victory. At this point, Makhachev is clearly one of the top-10 lightweights in the sport and he might even be a top-five fighter right now. In fact, his friend and training partner, former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, recently said that he believes Makhachev is the best fighter at 155lbs in the entire UFC.

Cole Shelton - July 18, 2021

In the main event of UFC Vegas 31, rising lightweight contenders met as Islam Makhachev took on Thiago Moises. Makhahcev entered the fight coming off a dominant third-round submission win over Drew Dober back at UFC 259. He has been called a future champion by his protégé Khabib Nurmagomedov and has looked like it so far. Moises, meanwhile, was coming off wins over Alexander Hernandez, Bobby Green, and Michael Johnson.

Adam D Martin - July 18, 2021

UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev called out Michael Chandler, saying that “you come from Bellator, I want to check your skills.” Makhachev defeated Thiago Moises in the main event of UFC Vegas 31 via fourth-round submission, and it was the type of statement win that should earn the No. 9 ranked lightweight in the UFC a step up in competition. Following his win over Moises, Makhachev took the mic and called out Rafael dos Anjos, the former UFC lightweight champion. But in his post-event interview with reporter Heidi Androl, Makhachev used it as an opportunity to call out Chandler, the former Bellator lightweight champion turned UFC fighter and analyst.

Adam D Martin - July 18, 2021

Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov outlined the plan for Islam Makhachev to be named the 2021 fighter of the year in MMA. Makhachev defeated Thiago Moises via fourth-round submission at UFC Vegas 31 on Saturday in what was arguably his coming-out party. Makhachev now has a 9-1 record in the UFC with an eight-fight win streak and he is quickly emerging as one of the best fighters in the division in the post-Nurmagomedov world. In fact, his longtime friend and training partner is so confident in Makhachev’s abilities that he believes he has what it takes to be the fighter of the year in 2021, although he knows it will be an uphill battle.

Chris Taylor - July 17, 2021

The Octagon remained in Nevada for tonight’s UFC Vegas 31 event, a 10-bout fight card headline by Islam Makhachev vs. Thiago Moises. The highly anticipated lightweight main event resulted in Makhachev’s eighth win in a row, as the Russian standout was able to finish Moises with a submission in round four.

Chris Taylor - July 17, 2021

Tonight’s UFC Vegas 31 event was headlined by a key lightweight bout between perennial division contenders Islam Makhachev and Thiago Moises. Makhachev (20-1 MMA) was returning to action for the first time since UFC 259, where he had scored a third round submission victory over Drew Dober. The Russian standout was riding a seven fight unbeaten streak into tonight’s headliner.