UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev recently sat down for a podcast conversation, where he was asked whether he had ever been warned against speaking publicly on LGBT-related issues while training and competing in the United States. He confirmed that he had.
“Yes, there were,” he said when asked if such warnings had been directed at him personally. He added that anything he says publicly would inevitably be amplified beyond its original context: “Even if I were to speak out now, it would be translated into all languages,” he said.
Makhachev described what he sees as a sensitive and heavily regulated topic across different environments, especially outside his home region. He explained that the level of restriction varies from country to country but remains significant in many places.
“In some countries it’s more, in some countries it’s less, but it’s a really sore subject,” he said. He added that in certain professional or formal settings, the message can be very direct: “At some meetings or conferences they might directly say, ‘Don’t bring up this topic, don’t criticize it, or you might get into trouble for saying something there,’” he noted.
Rather than framing these experiences as discouraging, Makhachev said they reinforce his connection to his homeland. He contrasted his personal values with what he perceives as Western social expectations.
“This is one of the more compelling arguments why I love my home, my country,” he said. “We have control over this, while in other countries it’s very, very, very sad with this,” he added.
When asked about his own stance, Makhachev was firm in his response, acknowledging potential consequences but refusing to distance himself from his beliefs.
“Yes, there might be some consequences if you speak out on this topic,” he said. “But I’m not afraid of these consequences,” he continued. “My religion, my culture, my country is against it, and so am I,” he added.
[Editor’s Note: Quotes have been translated and edited for clarity and readability.]
