Islam Makhachev claims the title of “Best UFC fighter”

The Russian will compete in this nomination with the current UFC title holders Jon Jones and Leon Edwards, as well as the former dual UFC champion Amanda Nunes, who recently announced her retirement from professional career.

In addition, Jones and Edwards are presented in two more categories – the American heavyweight will compete for the award in the category “Best return of an athlete”, and the British welterweight can become the author of the “Best championship performance” for the first fight with Kamaru Usman.

Together with Jones, baseball and basketball players from the strongest American leagues are represented in the category, and Edwards’ main competitor will be Argentine football player Lionel Messi, whose brilliant game ensured his national team victory at the World Cup in Qatar.

Last October, 31-year-old Islam Makhachev won the vacant UFC lightweight championship belt with a second-round hand triangle choke finish against Charles Oliveira, and in February of this year, the Russian made a successful title defense with a unanimous decision over Alexander Volkanovski.

Islam Makhachev plans to return to the octagon on October 21 at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, and several potential opponents claim to fight him, including Oliveira, Volkanovski, as well as the winner of the upcoming fight between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje.