Islam Makhachev
Wins on the mat — every scramble is a trap.
Fight Plan: Islam Makhachev
A coach-ready game plan — historical weaknesses opponents have exploited and what to drill in camp.
- Historically low strike absorption sometimes masks vulnerability to heavy pocket exchanges
- Can be forced into a high-paced kickboxing match if unable to secure the first-round clinch
- Drill takedown defense and cage-wall scrambles
- Constant lateral movement to break their rhythm
- Orthodox volume strikers in camp to mirror lead-hand exchanges
- Underhook battles and posture work off the back
Fighter fingerprint
Six-axis profile — the shape tells you the style at a glance.
Wrestling and Fight IQ are the standout edges; opponents should expect their game plan to lean on these.
- Aggression77
- Cardio90
- Wrestling96
- Fight IQ95
- Distance Control92
- Finishing64
Prep for camp: Islam Makhachev
Recommendations a coach can act on tomorrow — opponent tendencies, drills, and the sparring styles to stack against this fight.
- Utilizes a patient southpaw stance to bait opponents into counter-striking range
- Blends high-level Sambo trips and upper-body clinches with traditional double-leg takedowns
- Implements heavy positional pressure and active ground-and-pound to create submission openings
- Drill reactive sprawls — bait the shot off your right hand
- Pad work on cutting their right-side cage exits
- Match their pace through round 2, then turn the screws in 3
- Win exchanges with volume, not single shots — they walk through power
- Posture and frame drills off bottom — never give up the back
- Orthodox volume boxer
- Chain-wrestling D1 partner
- High-output kickboxer with heavy leg kicks
- Black-belt grappler comfortable on bottom
See it on film
Every read above should be verifiable. Jump straight to the footage on the platforms that host it legally — official channels first, archive sites second.
Entries, cage control, scrambles, submissions
Last 3 performances, full rounds and post-fight breakdowns
Coaches: official clip embeds per fighter are coming next — for now, deep links open searches pre-filtered to Islam Makhachev.
How Islam has changed
Trend lines across the last three years of tape.
Synthesized from recent fight tape · refresh to recompute
Stylistic neighbors
Closest matches across attributes, finish profile, and discipline — useful for sparring partner selection.
Status / Injuries
No current reported injuries.
Checked 6/21/2026
Recent Form
- W2025-11-15vs Jack Della MaddalenaU-DEC · R5 · UFC 322
- W2025-01-18vs Renato MoicanoSUB (D'Arce Choke) · R1 · UFC 311
- W2024-06-01vs Dustin PoirierSUB (D'Arce Choke) · R5 · UFC 302
- W2023-10-21vs Alexander VolkanovskiKO (Kick) · R1 · UFC 294
- W2023-02-11vs Alexander VolkanovskiU-DEC · R5 · UFC 284
Availability
Scheduled to headline UFC 330 against Ian Machado Garry.
Attribute Profile
Scouting Summary
Islam Makhachev is a dominant Sambo-based grappler who has evolved into a highly technical southpaw kickboxer. Currently the UFC Lightweight Champion, he combines suffocating top control with an elite ability to finish fights via both strikes and submissions.
Primary source ↗Tendencies
- Utilizes a patient southpaw stance to bait opponents into counter-striking range
- Blends high-level Sambo trips and upper-body clinches with traditional double-leg takedowns
- Implements heavy positional pressure and active ground-and-pound to create submission openings
- Uses a stiff lead jab and check right hook to neutralize aggressive pressure fighters
Signature Moves
- Arm Triangle Choke
- D'Arce Choke
- Inside Leg Trip
- Lead Leg High Kick
Weaknesses
- Historically low strike absorption sometimes masks vulnerability to heavy pocket exchanges
- Can be forced into a high-paced kickboxing match if unable to secure the first-round clinch