Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev hail from the mountainous region of Dagestan in Russia.
They have known each other since childhood and have trained together under the guidance of Khabib’s father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov since they were young. This raises the question: Are Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov brothers?
Exploring the Relationship Between Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov
Makhachev and Nurmagomedov grew up in Dagestan, Russia, and developed close friendships. Makhachev was constantly in Nurmagomedov’s corner during most of his UFC fights. Though they are not biologically related, Nurmagomedov and Makhachev share a brotherly bond.
Khabib Nurmagomedov was a dominant champion in the UFC, defeating every fighter the promotion put in front of him. The undefeated Nurmagomedov compiled an impressive 29-0 record, cementing his legacy as one of the all-time greats.
Though Nurmagomedov and his close friend Islam Makhachev are not biologically related, their close bond has led many to mistakenly believe they are brothers. When Nurmagomedov was young, he trained extensively with his father, while Makhachev lived next door.
After Nurmagomedov’s retirement, Makhachev has risen to the lightweight division’s top. He defeated Charles Oliveira in 2022 to capture the UFC lightweight title. Makhachev then defended his title twice against the featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, cementing his status as the new UFC pound-for-pound number one fighter.
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This weekend at UFC 302, Makhachev will put his lightweight title on the line against perennial contender Dustin Poirier. Fight fans will eagerly anticipate this highly anticipated matchup between two of the best lightweights in the world.
