Islam Makhachev Makes UFC History
There are a couple of numbers associated with the UFC that often get overlooked: 11 and 16.
The 11 refers to Demetrius Johnson, also known as “Mighty Mouse,” and his remarkable run of consecutive defenses of the UFC flyweight title.
On the other hand, 16 is the streak by Anderson Silva, who won that many fights in a row between 2006 and 2012—a remarkable feat that exemplifies consistent success in the sport.
But guess what? Islam Makhachev, the Dagestan dynamo, made history on Saturday night in Philadelphia.
At UFC 330, Makhachev secured his 17th consecutive win by defeating Ian Machado-Garry, a first-time welterweight title challenger, through a unanimous decision. This victory not only tied him with Silva but also stripped the Hall of Famer of a significant accolade within the UFC.
If there’s one thing Makhachev excels at, it’s consistency. His approach in the octagon is straightforward: apply pressure, execute takedowns, and gain the upper hand through grappling. It’s a method that his opponents know will come, yet they still struggle to counter it.
Even you, yes, you who’s reading this—there’s a sense of pressure to find a way to stop him, similar to his opponents.
In this fight, if there was a perceived advantage for Machado-Garry, it might have been at a distance. But that perception faded quickly when Makhachev landed a high kick in the second round that knocked Machado down, leaving him vulnerable.
Despite his loss, Machado-Garry showed more competitiveness against Makhachev compared to his predecessor, Jacques Della Maddalena, who faced Makhachev in a rather one-sided loss last November. In this bout, Machado-Garry displayed effective resistance to Makhachev’s established game plan and even had some success in the later rounds.
Ultimately, however, the belt remained with Makhachev, with the judges scoring the match 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47 in his favor.
Not all winning streaks carry the same weight, but those that involve championship fights certainly elevate a fighter’s standing. Following his win over Machado-Garry, Makhachev previously held the lightweight title, made four defenses, and won the welterweight title seven times in succession.
Makhachev’s impressive list of victories includes wins over top-tier fighters like Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovskiy (twice), and Della Maddalena. He’s even faced setbacks against some of the world’s best, but overall, he has handled a substantial amount of competition effectively. With a win against title contender Arman Tsarukyan as well, it’s fair to say he might be the strongest lightweight in the sport right now.
Around the corner, Makhachev’s 35th birthday is in October, yet he remains at the top of his game. His fight rhythm typically hovers around one or two matches a year, and a hand injury earlier this year might have been the only thing keeping him from defending his title again this year. Who knows—a 19-fight winning streak could be on the horizon if all goes well.
Makhachev isn’t stopping there. As a two-division champion, he’s got his sights set on reaching 20 wins, which could happen by 2028.
The welterweight division, however, is treacherous territory—something we’ve witnessed since Georges St-Pierre dominated. Machado-Garry was only ranked No. 4 in this division, while Makhachev sits at No. 1 and still hasn’t faced Carlos Prates or Michael Morales, ranked No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. Shavkat Rakhmonov, the only fighter to defeat Machado-Garry previously, is also in the mix and will likely continue to compete unless sidelined by injury.
To reach that elusive 20-win mark, Makhachev will almost certainly need to defeat at least two, if not all, of these contenders. Age might be on the side of these competitors, but Machado-Garry proved that didn’t deter him in their match.
Venturing further in his career means navigating through many challenges. The path is filled with obstacles.
No matter what numbers are associated with him, one thing remains clear: the name on every record will likely remain Makhachev’s, and that’s a mark that seems almost indelible.
