Islam Makhachev is set to defend his welterweight championship against rising contender Ian Machado Garry on Saturday, with a remarkable career trajectory that echoes that of Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Makhachev has already made four successful title defenses of the lightweight championship, a feat Nurmagomedov never achieved before his retirement.
Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, Khabib's father and Makhachev's trainer, told Makhachev that he would be champion if he trained hard, and Makhachev credits him and his father for helping "make him."
Islam Makhachev's current run has placed him in a similar place of dominance at the championship level, raising the question of whether he can surpass Nurmagomedov in the sport.
Makhachev has experienced defeat in his career, being knocked out by Adriano Martins in his second UFC fight, but this loss appears to be a fluke in hindsight.
Makhachev has fought 18 times inside the Octagon, including eight times in the main event, and has two more title fight victories than Nurmagomedov, holding a 6-0 record heading into Saturday.
Makhachev has also held titles in two weight classes, compared to Nurmagomedov's single run as lightweight champion.
The difference between Makhachev and Nurmagomedov lies in their fighting styles, with Makhachev being more well-rounded, comfortable standing and engaging in striking exchanges, as seen in his fights with Alexander Volkanovski and Dustin Poirier.
Makhachev executes takedowns at roughly the same rate as Nurmagomedov, but is actually slightly more efficient, with a takedown accuracy of 91% compared to 84% for Nurmagomedov in their UFC careers.
While Nurmagomedov had a unique mystique created by his win over Conor McGregor and early retirement while still the top fighter in the sport, Makhachev has the chance to provide continued longevity at the top of the sport while laying claim to being a multi-division champion.
Saturday's fight against Ian Machado Garry will either continue to build Makhachev's still growing legend or represent another speed bump in his career.
Source: CBS