Double UFC champion, pound-for-pound world number 1, undisputed master of grappling, Islam Makhachev is today one of the highest paid fighters on the planet. A look back at the financial and sporting rise of a child from Dagestan who became a living legend in the octagon.
Who is Islam Makhachev?
Islam Ramazanovich Makhachev was born on October 27, 1991 in Makhachkala, Republic of Dagestan. He is currently the UFC welterweight champion and former lightweight champion. Professional since 2010, he is also world combat sambo champion in 2016.
His story begins long before the UFC. He engaged in freestyle wrestling for a year before switching to MMA, after learning that Khabib Nurmagomedov was already a professional in the discipline. To support himself, he works as a security guard, with a boss who allows him to train during his working hours. An anecdote which well sums up the humility of the man.
He is coached by Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father, the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Today, he trains primarily in Dagestan with Khabib’s team and at the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose, California, under the direction of Javier Mendez.
The journey: from the shadows to the summit
Makhachev made his UFC debut on May 23, 2015 at UFC 187, where he submitted Leo Kuntz in the second round. It will be a long road before the spotlights.
He lost his only professional fight against Adriano Martins by first-round knockout at UFC 192 in October 2015. He has never lost since.
The main stages of his domination:
October 2022 – UFC 280: He faced Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title and won the belt in the second round by choke, after knocking Oliveira down with a punch. He also won the Performance of the Night bonus.
November 2025 – UFC 322 : After leaving the lightweight division with the record for the most title fight victories (5) and the most successful defenses (4), Makhachev moved up to welterweight and defeated Jack Della Maddalena by unanimous decision to capture the welterweight title. He becomes the eleventh double champion in UFC history and ties Anderson Silva’s 16-fight winning streak.
His style is built on sambo, with relentless positional control, chain wrestling and constant ground pressure, considered by many to be even more technical than Khabib’s.
His current assessment: 28 victories, 1 defeat. Five victories by knockout, 13 by submission.
The numbers that hurt: what Makhachev took at UFC 322
At UFC 322, Islam Makhachev earned $3,332,000, largely dominating the evening’s earnings list, with more than $10 million distributed across the entire event.
| Fighter | Gains UFC 322 |
|---|---|
| Islam Makhachev | 3 332 000 $ |
| Jack Della Maddalena | 1 542 000 $ |
| Valentina Shevchenko | 1 342 000 $ |
| Weili Zhang | 832 000 $ |
| Benoît Saint Denis | 321 000 $ |
The evolution of winnings: from challenger to multimillionaire
| Combat | Date | Gains estimés |
|---|---|---|
| vs Charles Oliveira – UFC 280 | Oct. 2022 | 1 030 000 $ |
| vs Volkanovski (1) – UFC 284 | Feb. 2023 | 542 000 $ |
| vs Volkanovski (2) – UFC 294 | Oct. 2023 | 1 942 000 $ |
| vs Dustin Poirier – UFC 302 | June 2024 | 1 842 000 $ |
| vs Renato Moicano – UFC 311 | Jan. 2025 | 2 242 000 $ |
| vs Jack Della Maddalena – UFC 322 | Nov. 2025 | 3 332 000 $ |
Net worth and income outside the octagon
Islam Makhachev’s net worth is estimated at between $5 and $7 million. He earns between $500,000 and $1 million per fight, but for high-profile events his earnings exceed $2 million thanks to victory bonuses, PPV shares and performance bonuses.
Outside of the cage, Makhachev has signed several partnerships in accordance with his religious beliefs. Among them, Wahed Investa halal fintech company based in New York, as well as other partners in line with its image as a serious and discreet fighter.
He is known for living simply. He resides on his farm in the remote mountain village of Burshi, in the Republic of Dagestan, a place he built to spend time with his family, and which he says helps him stay tall.
And now ?
Dana White has set Islam Makhachev’s return for August 2026, dismissing rumors of a July fight. The next defense of his welterweight belt promises to be a major event, with several serious contenders in ambush, Shavkat Rakhmonov, Ian Garry, and the still mentioned possibility of a clash with Ilia Topuria, lightweight champion.
He has been number 1 in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings since November 2025. The numbers speak for themselves, but they only tell part of the story of a man who built everything in the shadows, patiently, fight after fight.
From Dagestan to Madison Square Garden. From amateur sambo to 3.3 million per evening. Islam Makhachev has not finished writing his legend.
