In a frank conversation, former UFC champion Islam Makhachev reflects on the balance of power in the promotion, explains why American fighters are reaching title shots less often, and why the “Caucasus school” keeps producing contenders. We talk about pressure from hometowns, matchmaking, and why English can matter to a fighter as much as grappling.
Why There Are Fewer American Flags in the Octagon
Question. In the media you often hear that there are almost no American champions left in the UFC. What changed?
Islam Makhachev. “The reason is simple — the UFC started signing more of our guys from the Caucasus. I’m completely serious. When there are more athletes from Dagestan, Chechnya, and neighboring regions on the roster, competition for the top naturally intensifies — and that’s exactly where new champions emerge.”
A Five-Year Horizon: Who Takes the Belts
Question. Is it reasonable to imagine that in a few years most division champions will be from the Caucasus?
Islam Makhachev. “If the signing trend continues, I’m one hundred percent sure: many of ours will claim belts. For us it’s a way of life — sport isn’t beside us, it’s inside us. When a fighter’s life and character are built like that, he naturally moves toward title fights.”
Responsibility vs. Comfort: Two Worlds of Preparation
Question. People often talk about a ‘mental edge’ your guys have. What is it?
Islam Makhachev. “In the U.S. you can have a subpar performance and not worry much — the system and comfort are there. With us it’s different: behind that guy stands an entire republic, a city, a big family. You walk into the cage feeling you carry their flag. It’s a responsibility that doesn’t crush you but pushes you forward — on the ground, on the feet, in every exchange.”
The Business Side: Language, Hype, and Selling the Fight
Question. It’s believed that fighters from the Caucasus aren’t always profitable for the promotion: less English-language content, harder marketing. Do you agree?
Islam Makhachev. “Yes, that exists. That’s why I tell the guys in the gym straight up: learn the language. In today’s UFC it’s not enough to dominate on the mat or shut opponents off with the lead hand. You need to explain to the world who you are and why your fight is an event. Promos, interviews, media week — these are as much a part of the profession as warming up before a weight cut.”
Matchmaking and the ‘Gates’ to the Title
Question. How much do new signings change the shape of the contenders’ race?
Islam Makhachev. “Radically. When a division gets sturdy wrestlers with five-round endurance, matchmaking is rebuilt: new stylistic puzzles appear, and the ‘gates’ to the title shift. Those who can solve those problems climb the ladder to the championship belt.”
On the Statistical Margins: American Champions
As of this conversation, in the UFC’s eleven divisions only one belt is held by an American — Kayla Harrison, the champion in the women’s bantamweight division. This snapshot neatly illustrates Makhachev’s thesis about shifting centers of power: the signing of a strong wave of athletes from the Caucasus has sharply intensified competition at the championship level, and U.S. fighters increasingly have to fight their way through “wrestling-heavy styles” and a suffocating pace.
