Outside Source
Makhachev (28-1) was an elite lightweight contender even when his teammate and mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, was the champion. After Nurmagomedov retired as the undefeated champion in 2020, Charles Oliveira won the vacant title against Michael Chandler the next year. Khabib’s father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, had predicted that his favorite student, Makhachev, would take over the division after his son’s retirement. Makhachev challenged Oliveira for the lightweight title at UFC 280 in 2022. Abdulmanap’s plan came to fruition as Makhachev submitted Oliveira with an arm triangle in the second round.
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Makhachev recalls putting everything at stake going into his first title challenge against Oliveira. The Dagestani remembers the emotional unload when he felt Oliveira’s tap. Makhachev had never felt that way before and believes he will never get the same feeling again. Makhachev went on to defend his lightweight title four times, the most in the division’s history, before moving up to welterweight last year. The former lightweight champion dominantly dethroned Jack Della Maddalena to win the welterweight title at UFC 322 this past November. Despite becoming a double champion, Makhachev revealed that the feeling wasn’t the same as his first title win over Oliveira.
Overwhelmed by Emotion
“I just put on the table everything I had that night,” Makhachev told Arena Fight TV. “I remember the emotion that I had when he tapped, it’s crazy. It was the moment you understood — well done, it’s finished. How many years you did everything right to become UFC champion. It’s an emotion I never felt before, and I’ll never feel it again. When I became a double champ, it wasn’t the same.”
Islam Makhachev says the first belt gave him feelings the second never did. 🏆🏆
“It was the moment you understood – well done, it’s finished. It’s an emotion I never felt before, and I’ll never feel it again. When I became a double champ, it wasn’t the same; the first belt is… pic.twitter.com/iXdP4g88TR
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) February 15, 2026
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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