Islam Makhachev News

Islam Makhachev, Arman Tsarukyan
Islam Makhachev

Islam Makhachev hits back at "attention seeker" Arman Tsarukyan after post-UFC 302 taunts

Curtis Calhoun - June 6, 2024

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is increasingly annoyed with Arman Tsarukyan’s public taunts. Makhachev defeated Dustin Poirier in the UFC 302 main event on Saturday in Newark. He remains the UFC’s pound-for-pound king after his latest successful title defense and will likely face Tsarukyan later this year.

Dana White and UFC 300
Islam Makhachev

UFC CEO Dana White takes aim at “f*cking stupid” MMA media for voting Islam Makhachev ahead of Jon Jones in P4P rankings

Susan Cox - June 6, 2024

UFC CEO Dana White is taking aim at the ‘f*cking stupid’ MMA media for voting Islam Makhachev ahead of Jon Jones in the P4P rankings. Islam Makhachev (25-1 MMA) was recently awarded the number one spot in the P4P rankings, moving current heavyweight champion Jon Jones (27-1 MMA) down to the number 2 spot.

Islam Makhachev, UFC 302
Javier Mendez

Islam Makhachev's coach explains why staph infection before UFC 302 wasn't a big deal for them

Cole Shelton - June 5, 2024

Javier Mendez, the head coach of Islam Makhachev says his fighter getting staph before UFC 302 wasn’t a big deal to them. Makhachev was headlining UFC 302 against Dustin Poirier as he was looking to defend his lightweight title for the third time. Heading into the fight, Makhachev was a sizeable betting favorite, but on fight week, a photo went viral of him apparently having a staph infection.

Islam Makhachev, Alexander Volkanovski
Islam Makhachev

Islam Makhachev gets P4P endorsement from Alexander Volkanovski amidst Jon Jones debate: "There has to be activity there..."

Curtis Calhoun - June 5, 2024

Former UFC featherweight titleholder Alexander Volkanovski feels his two-time foe, Islam Makhachev, deserves the pound-for-pound nod over Jon Jones. Makhachev defeated Dustin Poirier by fifth-round submission to retain the UFC lightweight belt at UFC 302. He remains the UFC’s pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter as of this writing, with Jones in the No. 2 spot.

Islam Makhachev, UFC 302, Results, Dustin Poirier, UFC
Dustin Poirier

Arman Tsarukyan believes Dustin Poirier “just gave up” in fight with Islam Makhachev at UFC 302: “Why are you giving up your neck?”

Harry Kettle - June 5, 2024

UFC contender Arman Tsarukyan has questioned Dustin Poirier’s strategy in the final round of his title fight with Islam Makhachev. Last weekend in the main event of UFC 302, Dustin Poirier battled it out with Islam Makhachev over the UFC lightweight championship. The contest proved to be much closer than many had anticipated, but in the end, it was Makhachev who got the win with a late submission triumph.

Leon Edwards, Islam Makhachev
Leon Edwards

Leon Edwards reacts to Islam Makhachev's UFC 302 callout: "It's a massive fight!"

Curtis Calhoun - June 4, 2024

UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards has responded to Islam Makhachev’s intentions to move up for a dream opportunity to earn a second title. Makhachev defeated Dustin Poirier in his latest lightweight title defense at UFC 302 on Saturday in Newark. After a grueling four rounds of back-and-forth action with Poirier, Makhachev put the exclamation point inside the Octagon with a fifth-round submission by D’Arce choke.

Dana White, Islam Makhachev, UFC 294, UFC
Islam Makhachev

Islam Makhachev reacts after Dana White claims Jon Jones is still the best pound for pound fighter in the UFC

Harry Kettle - June 4, 2024

Islam Makhachev has given his thoughts on Dana White claiming that Jon Jones is still the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC. Last weekend, Islam Makhachev defeated Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 302. In doing so, he successfully retained his UFC lightweight championship. Of course, he had to face some adversity in order to get the job done, as you’d expect against someone like ‘The Diamond’.

Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier UFC 302
Islam Makhachev

What's next for the stars of UFC 302?

Cole Shelton - June 3, 2024

The UFC was in Newark, New Jersey for UFC 302 with the lightweight title on the line. In the main event, Islam Makhachev was looking to defend his lightweight title against Dustin Poirier who had said this was his final shot at winning the belt. The co-main event was a pivotal five-round middleweight scrap between Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa.

Islam Makhachev and Leon Edwards
Leon Edwards

Islam Makhachev opens as betting underdog for potential welterweight title fight against Leon Edwards

Cole Shelton - June 3, 2024

Islam Makhachev has opened as an underdog for a potential welterweight title fight against Leon Edwards. Makhachev defended his lightweight title for the third time on Saturday with a fifth-round submission win over Dustin Poirier. After his win, Makhchev asked to fight for the welterweight title next time out as he wanted to try and become a champ-champ.

Belal Muhammad and Islam Makhachev
Islam Makhachev

Belal Muhammad confirms that he isn't interested in fighting Islam Makhachev

Harry Kettle - June 3, 2024

UFC welterweight title contender Belal Muhammad has confirmed that he isn’t interested in fighting Islam Makhachev. At UFC 304, Belal Muhammad will challenge Leon Edwards for the UFC welterweight championship. It’s a fight he’s been after for a long time now, but up to this point, it hasn’t quite come to fruition. Alas, after the unbeaten run that Belal has put together, it’s impossible for the promotion to deny him this opportunity.

Islam Makhachev
UFC

Islam Makhachev prefers UFC welterweight title fight over Arman Tsarukyan rematch following UFC 302 win: "This is my dream"

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 2, 2024

Islam Makhachev has a preference for his next fight following UFC 302, but he’s willing to do whatever is asked of him. Makhachev once again showed off his elite traits in the main event of UFC 302. The 155-pound king mixed it up with Dustin Poirier inside the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey this past Saturday night. It was a quality effort from “The Diamond,” who was able to rough up Makhachev at certain points in the fight. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough as Makhachev forced Poirier to tap out via D’Arce choke in the final round to remain the lightweight champion.

Jon Jones Islam Makhachev Khabib Nurmagomedov
Jon Jones

Jon Jones gives his thoughts on Dagestani fighters after Islam Makhachev's UFC 302 triumph

Harry Kettle - June 2, 2024

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has given his honest thoughts on Dagestani fighters following Islam Makhachev’s win at UFC 302. In the main event of UFC 302, Islam Makhachev submitted Dustin Poirier to retain the UFC lightweight championship. It was a pretty incredible fight between two men who put it all on the line. However, despite his big win, UFC president Dana White made it crystal clear that he doesn’t believe Makhachev is the #1 pound for pound fighter in the promotion.

Dana White, Islam Makhachev, UFC 294, UFC
Islam Makhachev

Dana White says anyone calling Islam Makhachev the best pound for pound fighter is “nuts” after UFC 302

Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 2, 2024

UFC CEO Dana White has bashed those who believe that Islam Makhachev should be considered the pound-for-pound best fighter in MMA when Jon Jones remains active. Makhachev made his third successful UFC Lightweight Championship defense against Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 302, but it wasn’t easy. Poirier showed solid takedown defense and was able to do some damage on the 155-pound champion. In the end, Makhachev submitted Poirier in the fifth round via D’Arce choke.

Islam Makhachev, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, UFC 302, UFC
Dustin Poirier

Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz react after Islam Makhachev stops Dustin Poirier at UFC 302

Chris Taylor - June 1, 2024

Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz have shared reactions following Islam Makhachev’s submission victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 302. Makhachev (26-1 MMA) and Poirier (30-9 MMA) collided in tonight’s pay-per-view headliner in New Jersey with the promotion’s lightweight title up for grabs.

Islam Makhachev, UFC, BMF
UFC

UFC 302 Bonus Report: Islam Makhachev takes home $100k

Chris Taylor - June 1, 2024

The Octagon returned to New Jersey for tonight’s UFC 302 event, a twelve-bout fight card headlined by Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier. The highly anticipated lightweight title fight resulted in a thrilling back and forth affair. Islam Makhachev was able to get off to a strong start in the opening round, dominating Dustin Poirier on the canvas. However, ‘The Diamond’ had a much better second frame and was able to gain some confidence. Round three resulted in another good round for Makhachev, as he was once again able to get the fight to the floor. Then, in round four, ‘The Diamond’ was able to find success on the feet, opening up a bad cut on the reigning champ. Despite his best efforts, Poirier wound up getting taken down in the fifth and final round, which allowed Islam to lock up a fight-ending d’arce choke submission (see that here).

Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier
Islam Makhachev

Pros react after Islam Makhachev submits Dustin Poirier at UFC 302

Chris Taylor - June 1, 2024

Tonight’s UFC 302 was headlined by a lightweight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier. Makhachev (26-1 MMA) was returning to action for the first time since scoring a nasty knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski at October’s UFC 294 event in Abu Dhabi. That victory had marked the Dagestani’s thirteenth in a row and second defense of the lightweight title.

UFC 302, Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier
Islam Makhachev

UFC 302: ‘Makhachev vs. Poirier’ Live Results and Highlights

Chris Taylor - June 1, 2024

The Octagon returns to New Jersey for tonight’s UFC 302 event, a twelve-bout fight card headlined by Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier. Makhachev (25-1 MMA) will be returning to action for the first time since scoring a nasty knockout win over Alexander Volkanovski at October’s UFC 294 event in Abu Dhabi. The victory marked the Dagestani’s thirteenth in a row and second defense of the lightweight title.

Bo Nickal, Islam Makhachev
Islam Makhachev

Bo Nickal gives less-than-glowing review of Islam Makhachev's wrestling ahead of UFC 302

Curtis Calhoun - May 31, 2024

UFC middleweight star Bo Nickal doesn’t put Islam Makhachev’s wrestling in high esteem ahead of the lightweight champ’s return. Makhachev will face Dustin Poirier in the UFC 302 main event on Saturday in Newark. He returns to defend the UFC lightweight title after back-to-back wins over Alexander Volkanovski in 2023.