ISLAM MAKHACHEV

Hailing from Russia, Islam Makhachev is a southpaw lightweight competitor who trains at Fight Club Makhachkala. "The Eagle" is widely recognized for his relentless pressure fighting style and elite grappling skills. Prior to his matchup at UFC 302, he established himself at the absolute top of the division by capturing and holding the lightweight championship.

Entering UFC 302 with a 13-1-0 record, Makhachev is on a dominant winning streak. His recent run began in 2021 with submission victories over Drew Dober, Thiago Moisés, and Dan Hooker. He followed these with a technical knockout of Beneil Dariush in May 2022, before securing the lightweight crown by submitting Charles Oliveira with an arm-triangle choke later that year.