Islam Makhachev Shares Why American MMA Is in Decline Without Staple Champs

The states are down to having only Kayla Harrison — WMMA bantamweight champ — and a two-time Olympian from Ohio, as their only staple champ. It is quite a turnover, given that, in 2016, there were quite a handful of US Champs holding world titles. Places like Brazil and Dagestan are a niche in the sport now; ask Islam Makhachev, who himself has had quite success in this stage.

Jon Jones, the former #1 pound-for-pound king, was the last American staple from the men’s divisions on the Athletes’ Listings. The 38-year-old hung it up in June, only to regress and hint at a return a few weeks later.

Islam Makhachev is fully aware of the situation and pitched in on why he thinks America is running out of staple titleholders in UFC:

They just signing more of our guys…That is [the] reason…I am 100% sure there will be more champ from our region. From Caucasus, Dagestan, Chechnya…behind our guys, there is family, the whole city, whole republic. And he feels this responsibility and goes out with full responsibility and wins…

Islam Makhachev said in a recent media interview to Ushatayka (H/T: Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) on X)

The #2-ranked Pound-for-pound Makhachev was, as of recently, a long-time reigning lightweight king and boasts quite the win-streak and title defense stats. The Dagestani phenom is a direct protégé of Team Khabib, who have furthered their legacy along with a few others. The whole of the Dagestan MMA dynasty is characterized by stout principles, rigors, and mostly undefeated stats.

Georgia is located at the other end of the Caucasus region and has produced two top staples as well. #1 Pound-for-pound fighter and two-weight champ Ilia Topuria, and the dominant UFC 135-pound champ Merab Dvalishvili.

Islam Makhachev explains why there are no American champions in the UFC today:

"They just started signing more of our guys, that's the reason… our guys live for this sport. In the USA, for example, they don't worry even if they competed bad.

Behind our guys there is a family,… pic.twitter.com/tITWJEw6n7

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) August 24, 2025

The new UFC middleweight king, Khamzat Chimaev, who is from Chechnya, is ranked below them and Makhachev in the pound-for-pound listing. Makhachev recently had to field topics about matching up to the undefeated ‘Borz’ at 185 pounds. Light heavyweight champ Magomed Ankalaev also hails from the mountain regions.

Overall, the Caucasus region staples are plentiful and are currently dominating the fight sphere. Makhachev thinks that with major promotions signing mountainside men, they will continue to do so in the near future.

Islam Makhachev can be #1 P4P fighter again if he snags welterweight gold, per UFC legend

Since his KO victory over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 294 PPV in October 2023, Makhachev has been ranked the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. However, the dominant Dagestani held on to the #1 spot only for a few more weeks, after he relinquished stakes to his gold in May.

Topuria continued his title campaign, capturing a second gold at the UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira PPV main event, thus toppling Makhachev. Makhachev had a standout reign, logging five 155-pound title fights/four defenses and a 15-fight win streak. He kept hold of the #1 pound-for-pound spot for a gargantuan 602 days.

UFC PPV broadcaster and analyst Daniel Cormier thinks the 170-pound entrant, Islam Makhachev, can again top the list if he wins the gold in yet another division, similar to just how Topuria did.

Topuria, he is the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter today, …But if Islam, if Islam is able to beat Jack Della Maddalena, it flips again and Islam goes back to No. 1. Only because …his, his fighting style will then be proven to go up to the next weight class; Islam will have done everything Topuria has done at a heavier weight. Four title defenses at 155, and then the new champion at 170 [now]…

Daniel Cormier on his Official YT Channel (@DC_MMA) | 3 Rounds w/Din Thomas

Given his momentum as the promotion’s #1 pound-for-pound fighter and that he surpasses the records of his mentor, lightweight legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev warranted a straight title shot at welterweight. He is pretty much riding the same path Topuria is, and with a double-division championship and the manner of winning involved, he can surely be ranked 1 again.

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