Oct 22, 2022; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Islam Makhachev (blue gloves) defeats Charles Oliveira (red gloves) during UFC 280 at Etihad Arena. Mandatory Credit: Craig Kidwell-USA TODAY Sports

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Legacy over Records: Late Abdulmanap’s student Islam Makhachev Doesn’t Care About Surpassing The Lightweight Title Defense Record

Islam Makhachev remains indifferent to surpassing the lightweight title defense record, focused solely on his next challenge!

Oct 22, 2022; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Islam Makhachev (blue gloves) defeats Charles Oliveira (red gloves) during UFC 280 at Etihad Arena. Mandatory Credit: Craig Kidwell-USA TODAY Sports

Records are meant to be broken in any sport, especially MMA. Well, unless you are Islam Makhachev, who seems more interested in breaking faces than breaking records. The UFC lightweight champion recently shared his thoughts about potentially surpassing Khabib Nurmagomedov’s title defense record, and his response might surprise fans.

Makhachev comes from the mountains of Dagestan. The champions there are forged through gruelling training and unwavering dedication. The P4P champion learned early that numbers on paper mean far less than the bonds of brotherhood and respect.

Also Read: Islam Makhachev Teases Potential Fight Venue Following UFC 311

Islam Makhachev’s Take On Surpassing Mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov

The story of Makhachev and Nurmagomedov goes way beyond the typical fighter-coach relationship. They grew up together, trained together under the legendary Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, and shared the same dreams of UFC gold.

Now, with three successful title defenses under his belt, Makhachev stands at a crossroads. He could make history by becoming the first lightweight champion to secure four title defenses if he beats Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311. But here’s the interesting part: he couldn’t care less about that particular piece of history.

“You know, Khabib’s here to help us to be better than him, to push us, to help us. But, we never talk even about breaking this [record]. And records, all this stuff, it’s nothing for me, I just want to keep my belt,” said Makhachev via Shak MMA.

Islam Makhachev’s response was refreshingly honest. The current champ brings up an interesting point about records that puts everything in perspective. While he might match or exceed Nurmagomedov’s title defenses, there’s one record he knows he will never touch: that perfect 29-0 career record.

What makes this situation so unique is how it reflects the values instilled in the Dagestani fighting culture. While the rest of the MMA world obsesses over numbers, streaks, and records, these guys are more concerned with the daily grind of getting better.

Makhachev’s focus remains laser-sharp on one goal. He wants to keep that shiny belt around his waist. No fancy statistics,; he just wants pure dominance in the octagon!

(Image Credit: Craig Kidwell – Imagn Images)

Arman Tsarukyan

Islam Makhachev

Khabib Nurmagomedov

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!