Here is a comprehensive summary of the provided Wikipedia article about Islam Makhachev:

Islam Makhachev is a highly accomplished Russian professional mixed martial artist and former sambo competitor, most notably the former UFC Lightweight Champion. As of July 2025, he holds impressive rankings, standing at #1 in the UFC lightweight division and #2 in the men's pound-for-pound list. Hailing from Dagestan, Russia, Makhachev began his professional fighting career in 2010, building a strong foundation by becoming a two-time Russian national and 2016 Combat Sambo World Champion.

His early life saw him train in various combat sports from a young age, eventually leading him to train under the legendary coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov and forging a close connection with UFC icon Khabib Nurmagomedov. Makhachev signed with the UFC in 2014, where he has since secured numerous victories, with his only professional loss occurring in October 2015. His notable career also includes overcoming a heart condition discovered in 2014 that temporarily delayed his pursuit of the sambo world championship.