The caliber of hype and expectation attached to Islam Makhachev isn’t thrown around loosely in the current era of mixed martial arts. It is earned through the type of performances that signal much bigger things waiting on the horizon, and the 24-year-old Dagestan-born fighter has been nothing if not consistent in showing his abilities in live combat.
Before his arrival to the UFC back in May, the Russian powerhouse had collected a flawless 11-0 record competing on smaller stages around his home region. This string of victories made him one of the most highly touted prospects on the international scene, and being a close friend and training partner of fellow phenom Khabib Nurmagomedov only served to amplify the buzz surrounding him.