Islam Makhachev, now 24-1, sits at the summit and scans the horizon, a man without peer at 155 pounds—at least for now.
The 31-year-old Khabib Nurmagomedov protégé and current Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight titleholder has rattled off 12 consecutive wins and established himself as one of the top pound-for-pound competitors in the sport. While threats abound in one of MMA’s deepest and most tradition-rich weight classes, Makhachev appears poised for an extended run at the top. He has delivered 15 of his 24 career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission, nine of them inside one round.