M-1 Global Makhachev made his
M-1 Global debut against Tengiz Khuchua on 12 February 2011 and won the fight via KO in the first round. In his second fight for the promotion, Makhachev faced
Mansour Barnaoui, on 9 April 2013 at M-1 Challenge 38. He won via unanimous decision a (30–27, 30–27, 30–27). Makhachev faced then-undefeated
Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Rander Junio on 21 August 2013 at M-1 Challenge 41. He won via unanimous decision. Makhachev faced
M-1 Global Yuri Ivlev on 7 June 2014 at M-1 Challenge 49. Islam dominated the fight, he softened up Ivlev with punches before finishing the fight by submission via armbar. On 7 September 2014, in his final bout for M-1 Global before signing with the
UFC, Makhachev defeated Ivica Truscek via submission in the third round.
Ultimate Fighting Championship On 2 October 2014, Makhachev signed a four-fight contract with the
UFC. He submitted Leo Kuntz in the second round on 23 May 2015, at
UFC 187. Makhachev faced
Adriano Martins on 3 October 2015 at
UFC 192. He lost via knockout in the first round, marking his first and only professional loss to date. Makhachev was expected to face
Drew Dober on 16 April 2016, at
UFC on Fox 19. After the weigh-ins, the UFC announced that the bout was cancelled after Makhachev failed an out-of-competition drug screening, testing positive for the banned anti-
ischemic meldonium. USADA lifted Makhachev's suspension after a hearing on 2 July 2016 determined that the drug was prescribed in November 2015 to recover from a medical procedure to his heart. On 17 September 2016, he faced with
Chris Wade at
UFC Fight Night 94. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Makhachev faced
Nik Lentz on 11 February 2017, at
UFC 208. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Makhachev was expected to face
Michel Prazeres on 2 September 2017 at
UFC Fight Night 115. However, Makhachev pulled out of the fight in the beginning of August citing
a religious reason, and he was replaced by Mads Burnell. Makhachev fought
Gleison Tibau on 20 January 2018 at
UFC 220. He won the fight by knockout in 57 seconds in the first round. Makhachev faced
Kajan Johnson on 28 July 2018 at
UFC on Fox 30. Makhachev took Johnson down in the first round, where he worked to mount and secured the armbar, forcing Johnson to tap; giving Makhachev a submission victory. Makhachev was expected to face
Francisco Trinaldo on 26 January 2019 at
UFC 233. However, it was reported on 11 November 2018 Makhachev was pulled out from the event due to undisclosed reason and he was replaced by
Alexander Hernandez. Makhachev faced
Arman Tsarukyan on 20 April 2019 at
UFC Fight Night 149. He won the fight via unanimous decision. This win earned him the
Fight of the Night award. Makhachev faced
Davi Ramos on 7 September 2019 at
UFC 242. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Makhachev was scheduled to face
Alexander Hernandez on 18 April 2020 at
UFC 249. However, Makhachev was removed from the card due to
travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic and he was replaced by Omar Morales. Makhachev was expected to face
Rafael dos Anjos on 24 October 2020 at
UFC 254. However, on 8 October 2020 it was reported that dos Anjos tested positive for
COVID-19 and he was removed from the bout. The pairing was left intact and rescheduled for 14 November 2020 at
UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos. However, on 8 November, it was reported that Makhachev was forced to pull from the event due to
staph infection. Makhachev faced
Drew Dober on 6 March 2021 at
UFC 259. He won the fight by an arm-triangle choke submission in the third round. Makhachev faced
Thiago Moisés on 17 July 2021 at
UFC on ESPN 26. He won the fight by a rear-naked choke submission in the fourth round. A bout with former
UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael dos Anjos was rescheduled and was expected to take place on 30 October 2021 at
UFC 267. However, dos Anjos was forced to pulled from the event due to injury, and he was replaced by
Dan Hooker. He won the fight by a kimura submission in the first round. Makhachev was scheduled to face
Beneil Dariush on 26 February 2022 at
UFC Fight Night 202. However, on 12 February 2022 it was reported that Dariush withdrew from the event due to an ankle injury and he was replaced by
Bobby Green. He won the bout via ground and pound TKO in the first round. After winning the fight, he also expressed his intentions to move up to
welterweight and start his quest to become a two-division champion.
UFC Lightweight Champion Oliveira vs. Makhachev Makhachev faced
Charles Oliveira for the vacant
UFC Lightweight Championship at
UFC 280 on 22 October 2022. Makhachev won the bout and the title in the second round via arm-triangle choke after knocking down Oliveira with a punch. With this win, he received the
Performance of the Night bonus. In November 2022, Makhachev was awarded
Order "For Merit to the Republic of Dagestan" for his achievement in martial arts.
Makhachev vs. Volkanovski Makhachev defended his title against the
UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski on 12 February 2023 at
UFC 284. Makhachev won via a close unanimous decision. This fight earned him the
Fight of the Night award. This fight earned him the
Performance of the Night award.
Makhachev vs. Poirier Makhachev faced former interim lightweight champion
Dustin Poirier at
UFC 302 on 1 June 2024. He won by a brabo choke submission at 2:42 of the fifth round. This fight earned him both the
Performance of the Night and
Fight of the Night awards totaling $100,000.
Makhachev vs. Moicano Makhachev made his next title defense against
Renato Moicano on 18 January 2025 at
UFC 311. Makhachev was originally slated to defend the belt in a rematch against
Arman Tsarukyan, but one day before the event, a back injury suffered by Tsarukyan forced him to withdraw from the bout; Moicano was originally scheduled to face
Beneil Dariush at the event. He won the fight via a brabo choke submission in the first round.
UFC Welterweight Champion Makhachev vs. Della Maddalena In May 2025, it was announced that
UFC 317 will be headlined for the vacant lightweight championship, hence Makhachev will move up to challenge for the
UFC Welterweight Championship against current champion
Jack Della Maddalena. On August 28, 2025, the bout was officially announced and took place on November 15, 2025 at
UFC 322. Makhachev defeated Della Maddalena via unanimous decision to win the welterweight title, tying the UFC record for the longest win streak with 16 consecutive victories, matching
Anderson Silva. ==Fighting style==