Islam Makhachev was not entirely pleased with the rapid ascent of Michael Chandler in UFC. Upon his entry into the UFC arena, Chandler, a previous Bellator champion, had to secure just a single victory to compete for the clear lightweight title.
In January 2021, Chandler achieved a decisive win over Dan Hooker, which positioned him for a championship bout with Charles Oliveira just four months later. However, his bid for the belt ended in a knockout defeat at UFC 262.
Contrasting the trajectory of Chandler (with a record of 23 wins and 9 losses in MMA, and 2 wins and 4 losses in UFC), Makhachev, who is the current UFC lightweight champion (boasting an impressive 26 wins and one loss in MMA, with a record of 15 wins and one loss in UFC), had to tirelessly secure 10 successive victories to get his first shot at the title.
In an open conversation with Demetrious Johnson about his long journey to the UFC championship, Makhachev revealed: ‘It was an enormous undertaking requiring a 10-fight winning streak. Hence, before getting my belt, I reassured everyone that I believed I had cracked the code for a title-shot eligibility. I had done all I could, and all I wanted was a shot at the title.’
Makhachev humbly admitted that the commercial appeal may have contributed to his extended journey to glory. Witnessing Chandler get his opportunity at the title so swiftly agitated him.
Addressing his somewhat quiet presence in the UFC, Makhachev stated: ‘Perhaps the fact that I didn’t communicate in English or proactively promote myself might have prolonged my climb to the title. I fought tirelessly against top-level fighters all my life. It was a struggle to find opponents who were willing to face me.’
He further added: ‘It was a steep uphill challenge. The same was the case for Khabib (Nurmagomedov). Our paths to success were never easy.’
Casting observations on the unique nature of the sport, Makhachev pointed out, ‘A fighter like Michael Chandler can transition from Bellator, conquer a single fight, defeat Dan Hooker, and then compete for the title. Unfortunately, this does not apply to fighters like me.’
In an honest proclamation of his feelings, Makhachev confessed: ‘Of course, it’s upsetting when other fighters vault into the championship fray ahead of me. I had a long journey. I fought for so many years, and then someone simply turns up, defeats a lower-ranked fighter, and is given a chance at the title before I am.’
Despite the length of his journey and frustration with the speed of others’ advancement, Makhachev’s patience and persistence finally paid off. He has risen to be the UFC’s top pound-for-pound fighter, a truly commendable achievement.
Looking ahead, Makhachev aims to make UFC history by defending his lightweight title for a record-breaking fourth time. His opportunity to script history will come when he faces Arman Tsarukyan in the highly-anticipated main event at UFC 311, scheduled for January 18.
Makhachev’s journey paints a clear picture of the unpredictable landscape of the MMA, where the paths to glory can widely vary. For some, it’s a quick escalation, while for others like Makhachev, it’s a trial of patience and continuous hard work.
Michael Chandler’s swift climb may have been an anomaly, but Makhachev’s story makes it clear that not everyone can simply jump into the UFC and immediately vie for the title.
Makhachev’s lengthy and arduous path, fraught with various challenges, has only strengthened his resolve and highlighted his unwavering commitment to the sport. But it was also filled with introspective lessons about the need to promote oneself to stay relevant in this highly competitive field.
In this sport, timing and marketability are just as crucial as the skill within the cage. While Makhachev has proven his prowess in the latter, he acknowledges that he might have had to work on the former to expedite his career advancement.
However, all these experiences have shaped Makhachev, giving him a rich perspective and absolute determination that he will carry into the octagon as he steps in for the record-breaking title defense. His story illustrates that individual paths to the UFC title can be as diverse and complex as the fighters themselves.