People need a show: will Makhachev emerge from Khabib’s shadow?

Islam Makhachev is close to becoming the second UFC champion from Dagestan, only one obstacle remains on the way to the belt – Brazilian Charles Oliveira. The fight for the vacant lightweight title of the organization will take place this Saturday, October 22, at the UFC 280 tournament in Abu Dhabi (UAE).

Recall that the first Dagestani UFC champion was Khabib Nurmagomedov – he won the lightweight belt in April 2018, defeating American Al Iaquinta. Khabib then made three successful title defenses and announced his retirement in October 2020.

Khabib Nurmagomedov is a star not only of mixed martial arts, but of all world sports. Even two years after the end of his career, interest in his person does not fade either from the media or from sports fans.

Is Makhachev, in the event of a victory over Oliveira and further successful fights, able to achieve that recognition among the Dagestanis and that level of world fame that his older comrade Khabib Nurmagomedov achieved? Here is what sports journalists of the republican media interviewed by MK in Dagestan think about this.

Ruslan Bakidov, Youth of Dagestan.

Glory, like Khabib, Islam is unlikely to achieve. Glory is somehow connected with the level of drama, and in this regard, the story of Orel is more interesting than that of Makhachev – he is the first fighter from Russia in a very long time to sign a contract with the UFC, he is the son of a legendary coach, he is a man who has gone through many injuries, let alone throw in the names of his rivals. Enough for two: McGregor, the confrontation with which began long before the fight, and as a result, every Dagestan grandmother knew that Conor was a rooster; and Ferguson, a duel with which broke down five times. I don’t know if this is a record for MMA or not, but the story of this failed confrontation excited many.

Makhachev has no such background. It seems to me that the level of his fame will depend not on his fighting skills, but on the level of drama of his confrontations – his MacGregors, his Fergusons will get in the way, then he can get closer to Khabib. But so far, Islam has everything exactly in this regard. They will certainly respect him, they already respect him, but I doubt that he will gather the same fanbase as Khabib. At least, if the career does not suddenly become richer in bright events.

Shikhmagomed Nurmagomedov, Makhachkala News.

With all due respect to Islam, Khabib Nurmagomedov is the only one of his kind. Today, I don’t see a single fighter from Dagestan in the UFC roster who could somehow come close to Orel’s success. In order to be like Khabib, or even better, you need to not only fight well, but also give people a show.

Islam Makhachev, fortunately for him as a person, and unfortunately for a UFC fighter, is just a humble hardworking guy. Yes, now you can hear some echoes of thrash current from him, but this is more like coaching from his manager and the same Khabib.

Said Saidova, “New business”.

I think that the championship belt and sports records for Islam will not be enough to repeat Khabib’s success. Nurmagomedov became everyone’s favorite even before winning the belt. And there are many reasons for that. Well, at least the fact that he became a pioneer. It is a feeling of novelty that can no longer be recreated.

An important role was played by the character of Nurmagomedov, his personality type and moral qualities, which, for sure, Islam Makhachev is not deprived of either. It’s just that Khabib had them well lit. Khabib is often witty and, due to which, aphoristic, his phrases diverge and become “winged”. Which also says a lot.

Anyone who is in any way connected with Khabib, including Makhachev, automatically falls into his shadow. Most headlines about Khabib Nurmagomedov’s MMA brothers invariably start with “Former UFC Champion Brother”. Which is not very good and even annoying.

The list is endless, but I think this is enough. It would be useful to add that all of the above is the impartial opinion of a person who is not a fan of Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Kurban Ragimov, NNT TV channel.

Khabib is a trailblazer. There was always a big stir around his fights in Dagestan. Watched in cinemas, in courtyards, etc. Now there are more than 10 UFC fighters in the republic. It will be difficult for Makhachev to surpass the level of popularity of Nurmagomedov, since, despite regular victories, he always performed in the shadow of his older friend. Islam is modest and calm in life.

In his interviews, Makhachev has said more than once that for high-profile fights he aims at the 77 kg division (welterweight). The fight for the unification of the belts (in lightweight and welterweight) is a major event, which Khabib himself did not dare to do. Therefore, victory here will greatly raise the level of fame and recognition of Islam not only in Dagestan, but throughout the world.

Shamil Kurbanov, RIA “Dagestan”.

Definitely, with the conquest of the championship belt, Islam Makhachev will increase the number of fans, and the interest in him from the media will grow. But I think to get the fame that Khabib has, he needs to make several title defenses, and it would be nice to get a fight with McGregor. Conor is a media personality, no matter where he is in the rating, and a fight with him will attract even more attention to Makhachev, and they will talk about him more.