Ground game
70 BCompetent offensive grappling — enough volume and threat to change where the fight is scored.
- 3.10 takedowns / 15 at 56% accuracy
- 0.98 submission attempts / 15 · 13 career sub wins
Welterweight
29-1
SLpM
2.45
SApM
2.27
Str Acc
72%
Str Def
53%
TD Avg
3.10
TD Acc
56%
TD Def
100%
Sub Avg
0.98
Hybrid who can change levels — high-IQ problem solver, elite sprawl, southpaw
Fight IQ
Built from FightMetric rates, method shares, and 4 loaded UFC rows. Timing and agility are tape proxies, not lab measurements.
IQ
Ground
Defense
Counter
Reaction
proxy
Agility
proxy
TD react
Chin
Fight IQ
High fight IQ. Changes lanes mid-fight, rarely gives up a finish, and wins more than one way.
Takedown reaction
Sprawls on time. Level changes get stuffed at a rate that keeps this fight standing when they want it standing.
Durability
Standard UFC durability. Can be hurt, usually recovers if the shot is not clean.
No glaring hole — the résumé is even.
Islam Makhachev is a 34-year-old Southpaw welterweight out of Russia, camped at Eagles MMA. The tape read: hybrid who can change levels — high-iq problem solver, elite sprawl, southpaw. Career mark 29-1-0 — 6 by KO/TKO, 13 by submission, 10 by decision. Fight IQ grades A (88).
What works. Fight IQ is the standout at 88 (A). High fight IQ. Changes lanes mid-fight, rarely gives up a finish, and wins more than one way. Ground game B on 3.10 TD/15 and 0.98 sub attempts. Striking defense C+ at 53% / 2.27 SApM. Counter punching C+; punching agility C+ (output × accuracy × age curve). Takedown reaction A on 100% TD defense. These are tape proxies — not lab reaction times — built from FightMetric rates, finish shares, and 4 loaded UFC rows.
Where it breaks. Striking defense is the soft spot (62, C+). Eats more than a championship pocket should. High SApM or a porous guard will get taxed against power. Opponents who draw them into the pocket and throw with bad intentions have historically been the ones who make this résumé leak. Losses lean decision more often than a highlight — the issue is usually control of minutes, not a glass jaw.
Recent tape (4 bouts): W Moicano (Submission R1) · W Volkanovski (KO/TKO R1) · W Volkanovski (Decision - Unanimous R5) · W Oliveira (Submission R2). Form index positive over the last 4. 1 of those wins reached the championship minutes — cardio and late IQ are real.
Competent offensive grappling — enough volume and threat to change where the fight is scored.
Eats more than a championship pocket should. High SApM or a porous guard will get taxed against power.
Limited counter threat. Opponents can miss without paying a finishing tax.
Average-plus reactions. Gets touched, but rarely frozen in place when the shot or the shot-to-takedown comes.
Heavy or economical. Combinations are chosen, not sprayed — opponents can time the entries.
Sprawls on time. Level changes get stuffed at a rate that keeps this fight standing when they want it standing.
Standard UFC durability. Can be hurt, usually recovers if the shot is not clean.
| Date | Opponent | Res | Method | Rnd | Sig |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 19, 2025 | Renato Moicano | W | Submission | 1 4:05 | 6/19 |
| Oct 21, 2023 | Alexander Volkanovski | W | KO/TKO | 1 3:06 | 24/29 |
| Feb 12, 2023 | Alexander Volkanovski | W | Decision - Unanimous | 5 5:00 | 57/95 |
| Oct 22, 2022 | Charles Oliveira | W | Submission | 2 3:16 | 30/41 |