Long reigning UFC 155-pound champion Islam Makhachev has faced two challengers in three title defenses. But the dominant Dagestani kept on writing an alternate ending against all odds. Now, Makhachev goes in for a historic fourth defense of the lightweight gold at UFC 311 PPV. However, it’s his UFC 302 D’arce stint that has the attention of the punter.
Islam Makhachev met veteran lightweight Dustin Poirier’s at UFC 302. The battle was a highly technical exchange and clinical slicers. He’d chip off the ‘Diamond’ via submission (D’arce choke) in the fifth round at around the 2:42 mark. That moment and the D’arce technique is what the lightweight champion deemed as his favorite.
Submission of the Year, …hehh [Laughs]…No, we did drills man [Laughs]…it was drills it’s my favorite choke. It’s my favorite – that’s why you see the moment when I close my arm and I finish…[that] part – Usman right away jumped to the cage he told me ‘When you close your the arm, I know it’s going to be finished. That’s why I started running.’
Islam Makhachev on “MIGHTY” Podcast (@Mighty15x)
The UFC community voted for Makhachev’s round five submission 2024 #UFCHonors Submission of the Year Winner on the official website. Makhachev told host Demetrious Johnson that he was so particularly fond of it, that Bellator champion Usman Nurmagomedov jumped the cage telling him he knew he’d get one in.
‘DJ’, a prime part of the camp for UFC 311, also quipped about Makhachev using it twice during their alleged “drills”. The second time – he didn’t ball up, but instead initiated the lean-in and the effort and coil! Practice makes perfect Dagestani.
REMAINED A TOP THE LIGHTWEIGHT THRONE 👑@MAKHACHEVMMA is the 2024 #UFCHonors Submission of the Year Winner! pic.twitter.com/q8tl5ORbrx
— UFC (@ufc) January 6, 2025
The Russian lightweight from Eagles MMA has gone through a skill-to-skill test grinder like not many could. One that is sure to make him the No. 1 pound-for-pound best fighter in MMA today. His submission victory and how it came to be in between striking clinics just proves it even more. Javier Mendez, Makhachev’s trainer, said there should not have been a debate about it anyway.
Javier Mendez bills Islam Makhachev is #1 pound-for-pound best right now
Anderson Silva’s 16-fight winning streak is perhaps one of the best competition records. Kamaru Usman came within a few minutes and a Leon Edwards head kick of tying Silva’s record at UFC 278. But otherwise, the benchmark remains unthreatened. That all could change with Islam Makhachev defending the guard atop the UFC 311 PPV headliner, and afterward.
Islam Makhachev is the best P4P fighter, per coach (Source: si.com/IMAGO)Makhachev is riding on a 14-fight winning streak. Several storylines were gripping the 2024 season, but none more than the pound-for-pound debate. The Dagestani star was always a good bet for No. 1 Men’s pound-for-pound in UFC competition. He also defended his gold with somewhat steady ballot appearances. Coach Mendez said that makes a good point for such considerations.
This is what I always say: How many fights does Jon Jones have in the last four years? Tell me. How many? f you said six or seven, OK. But how many does he have? Two in four years. I’d put Jon Jones at No. 1 – but he hasn’t fought…Islam’s fights have always been against No. 1, Volkanovski was the best featherweight in the world and pound-for-pound, and everyone he’s fought has been very tough. The styles of all those guys were very good.
Javier Mendez to MMA Junkie’s Danny Segura in Spanish for Hablemos MMA (@HablemosMMA)
A prime instigator of the topic was promotional CEO Dana White claiming Jon Jones was the pound-for-pound best. Mendez presents that “Bones” fought Stipe Miocic en route to a third-round TKO (punches) win; a feat over a 42-year-old who hasn’t fought in years. It saw the GOAT fighter maintain a high spot in the Men’s pound-for-pound listing weekly updates.
However, Islam Makhachev’s slate of competition was Poirier, Alexander Volkanovski (X2), and Charles Oliveira. At UFC 311, he meets No. 1 seed for gold Arman Tsarukyan, who gave both him and “Do Bronx” a run for the money. Makhachev has fought eight times since 2021 against high-level competition. That counts for all the debate in the world, according to Mendez.
Stay Updated!
Join our newsletter to receive exclusive updates and curated insights directly to your inbox.
