February 15, 2025
After UFC 311 it is clear: Islam Makhachev is the place where delusions go to die
MMA

After UFC 311 it is clear: Islam Makhachev is the place where delusions go to die

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 18: Islam Makhachev of Russia reacts after a submission win against Renato Moicano of Brazil in the UFC lightweight championship fight during the UFC 311 event at the Intuit Dome on January 18, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Islam Makhachev barely broke a sweat during his historic UFC 311 title defense. (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

One of the things Islam Makhachev does better than anyone in combat is breaking glass slippers and rolling around in the shards.

Renato Moicano enjoyed a beautiful moment in a game he never mastered heading into UFC 311, and for 24 hours Moicano collected as many accolades as he could before filling in for the injured Arman Tsarukyan in the match against Makhachev. What a story it was for the 35-year-old veteran to get his chance out of the blue. What a story would would have made it if he had defied all odds to win the lightweight title.

Still, we all know that Cinderella has no place in MMA. Makhachev defeated Moicano late in the first round at the sparkling new Intuit Dome in Los Angeles in what almost seemed like a ritual slaughter. A D’Arce choke that left him in a panic, and a sequence that will play on a loop in his head for a long time. We somehow knew what was coming, which is a polite way of saying it We knew exactly what was coming.

Because we had seen it before.

We saw it with Dustin Poirier, who, like Moicano, upset Benoit Saint Denis and became one of the feel-good stories of 2024. Poirier enjoyed the kind of renaissance you almost never see in the UFC, and his reluctance to go gently into that good night was inspiring. The narrative leading up to UFC 302 was poetic from almost every angle. But when he joined Makhachev, this particular daydream quickly turned dark. He lasted until the fifth round, but was overwhelmed from the start. Succumb, minute after brutal minute. Until he typed.

Poirier’s story would not have a feel-good ending.

Alexander Volkanovski? The first battle may have been hard enough, but the second battle was a cold reminder of the kind of tyranny we are dealing with. Volk never recovered from it. Islam was so good that even Jon Jones’ most loyal fan, Dana White, admitted after UFC 311 that Islam is the undeniable pound-for-pound king. Beating Moicano was enough to overtake the GOAT, Jonny “Bones” Jones, in the most hypothetical rankings.

There has been debate all week about how Makhachev compares to his coach and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov. Would Islam surpass him as the lightweight GOAT with a fourth title defense while Khabib only had three? Would Islam’s rigorous schedule get him over the finish line? The shame is that Tsarukyan, who won nine out of 10 fights, played a key role in the discussion. It presented enough of a stylistic challenge to strengthen Makhachev’s point.

But the cold ease with which Makhachev defeated Moicano on Saturday evening speaks for itself. And if Makhachev has truly developed into the lightweight GOAT and current pound-for-pound king, you’d like to see him fight someone who doesn’t arrive in glass slippers. Someone who will cast doubt on title reign, like Umar Nurmagomedov did for Merab Dvalishvili at bantamweight, or like Magomed Ankalaev will when he challenged Alex Pereira for the light heavyweight crown.

If Makhachev has truly developed into the lightweight GOAT and current pound-for-pound king, you’d like to see him fight someone who doesn’t arrive in glass slippers.

And right now, other than Tsarukyan – who White said needs to get back in line after forcing him to fight – there aren’t many names standing out at lightweight. Makhachev already beat Charles Oliveira to win the title. Dan Hooker is revitalized, but he’s a little low in the pecking order. Besides, this fight doesn’t move anything. Justin Gaethje is a striker that the matchmakers love, but is not the right choice (especially after the knockout loss to Holloway). Holloway is coming off a loss to Topuria.

Which leads to…Topuria.

Another featherweight champion who can’t wait to test himself at 155 pounds, which is perhaps the most compelling of all the options available. With Belal Muhammad seemingly locked in a title fight with Shavkat Rakhmonov for the welterweight title, fighting for the second belt may not be an immediate option for Makhachev. But the upcoming Topuria is the kind of momentum fight Islam could use, the 2024 Fighter of the Year who beat the two best featherweights in the world – Volkanovski and Holloway – like it was no big deal.

Topuria is in a similar situation to Makhachev. Who is there after already beating the best? Diego Lopes is scheduled to face Yair Rodriguez on March 29 in Mexico City, and Movsar Evloev… well, the UFC can’t seem to find a comfortable spot on that bandwagon. The timing would make sense if UFC Topuria wants to fulfill his desire to join the two-division championship club.

Right after Makhachev wrapped the belt back around his waist, Topuria posted on social media: “Islam, if I want, I can finish you.” If I want, I can knock you out. I’ll make it look easy. See you.” And he accompanied this text with a little winking emoji. Poking the bear just before Ramadan hibernation.

Delusional? Perhaps. But see, that’s what’s fun. Topuria sees an opportunity for history, while Makhachev is where delusions go to die.

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