Islam Ramazanovich Makhachev is a Russian professional mixed martial artist and former sambo competitor. He currently competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the current UFC Welterweight Champion and former UFC Lightweight Champion. Makhachev has competed in mixed martial arts professionally since 2010 and signed to the UFC in October 2014, making his debut in May of 2015. In February 2023 Makhachev defeated featherweight champion Alexander