How Islam Makhachev Became the Best Fighter in the UFC
Yaar listen up you Mumbai fight fanatics! You know me right That guy who use to scream at the TV phone glued to the crack screen watching Khabib replays while my noisy cousins fought over the last slice of pizza during the 2021 lockdown. My Wi-Fi it was worse then a B-movie villain’s escape plan cutting out at the most crucial submission. Neighbors they’re still argueing about cricket probably. But forget all that noise because my obsession its moved. It’s all about Islam Makhachev now boss. Khabib a legend no doubt but Islam this man hes different gravy man. He took the blueprint ripped it then put it back together stronger faster like a universal solider man.
⤷ The Early Grind My Wi-Fi Woes
Remember Islam’s early days The Dagestani he was just 18 when he went pro. A Sambo base yeah you expect that. But those first finishes Bhai knockouts to! First guy Yuri Ivlev back in 2011. Ivlev a Russian scene regular. Islam he just let Ivlev have it. Punches punches punches to the head. Referee a bit slow on the uptake stubborn like my old landlord. Three mintues of that and Yuri was blushing with shame. Islam like a gentleman let the veteran save face then smoothly went for the armbar. Fast finish absolute class.
Then came Sviy Trushko. Croatian Cro Cop 50 fights but nothing prepared him for the Eagle clan’s style. Islam beat the Croation for three rounds. On the ground boss that’s where he lives. Anal Primov hanging on Islam. Makhachev exchanged the mount for a crucifix and just drown Trushko in a waterfall of blows. Last minute a magnificient reverse triangle. That move yaar still gives me goosebumps. That’s how Islam won his ticket to UFC. But guess what Not his first triangle. Back in 2011 a crucifix to an inverted choke. This guy hes been doing this stuff since forever. My cracked phone it almost gave up buffering those old fights man. The pixels they where doing a classical Indian dance of their own.
⤷ UFC Entry and the Speedbumps
May 2015 UFC debut. Leo Koons. Dude had a 15-fight win streak. In the first round Islam blocked everything. Second round Makhachev just started working. Koons he got a backpack Islam hanging on tight as a noose. The Americans resistance it just vanished. Poof! Gone in a minute.
But then the hiccup. The next fight they throw him against Adrian Martins. Right hook Brazilian cut it off in the bud. My heart it stop like the electricty during a monsoon rain. Whole neighborhood screaming not about cricket this time but because the power went out right as Islam went down. Pure agony. That loss it fade his star for a bit. My own biryani attempt that day Disaster. To much chili not enough love. Everything just went south.
But Islam hes not one to stay down. Cycle of victorries over the top guards. Januray 2018 Gleison Tibau. That guy a gatekeeper in lightweight gave Khabib a tough time five years earlier. Makhachev Not getting stuck. He turn Tibau’s lights out black screen on his projector in less than a minute. One hit. Brazilian tank down. Next Kane Johnson a test in the top 15. Canadian had four UFC trumphs. But when he met Islam couldnt even close his guard. Foo Mau. Half a minute later point made travel done.
2019 April he and Arman Tsarukyan gave us a ‘Battle of the Evening’. September Islam showed his strike advantage over Davi Ramos snapped his knee. Six wins in a row climbing that ladder. Then the pandemic hit. Sitting on bench for a year and a half. Those were days of rewatching fights endlessly my cousins still making noise the Wi-Fi still playing hide-and-seek.
March 2021 return. Drew Dober. Elite kickboxer. But in 12 minutes Dober barely score a dozen punches. Makhachev one takedown each round. From above he slowly rushed Dober’s concrete face. In the third time to finish. Islam’s shoulder a lump in the Americans throat. Hand triangle. Summed up the class. Ninth place in rating.
Four months later main event against Thiago Moises. Brazilian a BJJ world champ. Islam like cutting a tiramisu sliced through the octagon. Moises tried to explode got a rebuff then a takedown gifted by fate. Islam regained control held his hands acted authoritatively on his feet throws at will. Enough oxygen for five rounds but in fourth finished the working day early. The Brazilian’s lesson If Sambo was simple it would be called Jiu-Jitsu. My dad hed say “Bete that’s like trying to teach a cat to bark.”
⤷ Do Bronx Volkanovski and a Biryani Blunder
October 2021 Rafael Dos Anjos. Big fight. Promised a title shot. But RDS pulled out. Who steps in Dan Hooker. Tall guy killer hook says he bends nails. Islam Hooker caught him with a jab. Immediate regretted it. Instant transit to the grid. Islam let him take his hand out but then the judge he decided the fight fee wasn’t worth it. Harsh instruction. In three minutes Islam took the fourth line. That was brutal man. Like a Bollywood villain’s swift justice.
February 2022 Bobby Green stepped in. After a meeting with Islam opponents often looked like theyd been under a truck. Bobby he open with a multi-story line of kicks. Soon Bobby was looking at the ceiling wondering how he got there. Fourth minute Green complete regretting not going to football. Mop wound. Wipe the canvas. Done.
The final boss. Charles Oliveira. Du Bronx. Eleven-victory streak. Heads of Chandler Poirier Gaethje hanging on his wall. Dangerous Brazilian some called him Khabib’s heir. Islam He believed Oliveira was just warming his place. At the start Charles rushed into a shootout. But Makhachev’s caliber larger. Clinch Olivera also unlucky. Rest of the round he lay under punches. Second round Islam work as the second number. Shorted the champion’s electric coils pulled off the power with a suffocating side. Arm triangle. Coveted title. Submission of the year. Khabib the teacher pleased with his protégé.
My God man that title fight! The whole building it vibrated. My cousins even they stop their noise. My mum came out “What’s all this shouting?” Islam just pure domination.
Then Volkanovski. First title defense. Everyone talking P4P number one. Dagestani against the Aussie champion. What a fight! Volk hes tough as nails smaller but explosive. But Islam he knew. He nulified. Control power those Dober-like moments where he just ground the man down. Showed new layers to his stand-up to. Volk credit where its due pushed him but Islam he handled it. Another unaminous decision cemented himself.
Bhai this era its Islam’s. Hes not just a grappler hes a complete fighter. Took souls on the ground turn into a universal solider in the stand-up. Eight years man. From Ned to hopeful now undisputed king. My heart still goes dhak-dhak everytime a fight is announced. What a journey. And me Still watching replays maybe with better Wi-Fi now but with the same crack screen phone probably. And maybe just maybe I’ll get the biryani right next time.
