UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev recently shared his perspective on a striking trend in mixed martial arts: the absence of American-born champions currently holding UFC titles. The Dagestan native offered candid insights in a recent interview into what he sees as a cultural shift.
“There are no American champions left in the UFC,” Makhachev observed. He acknowledged one exception: “There is Merab [Dvalishvili], he is an American citizen, but in fact, he is Georgian.”
When asked about this decline in American dominance, Makhachev pointed to the UFC’s recruitment strategy. “They just started signing more of our guys, that’s the reason,” he explained, suggesting that the promotion has simply begun signing more competition from his region.
The numbers speak to this geographic transformation at the sport’s highest levels. “The first top 4 P4P fighters are from Caucasus. Do you admit that in five years there will be not four, but 10 fighters, for example?” the reporter asked.
Looking toward the future, Makhachev expressed confidence that this trend will only intensify. When asked if he could envision fighters from his region dominating the rankings, his response was: “Well, if they keep signing, I am hundred percent sure there will be more champs [from Caucasus.] From Caucasus, Dagestan, Chechnya.”
The champion attributes this regional success to fundamental cultural differences in how athletes approach their craft. “No brainer our guys live for this, for this sport,” he explained. This dedication stems from the unique social structure surrounding these athletes.
Makhachev drew a stark contrast between American and Caucasian approaches to competition pressure. “In the USA, for example, they don’t worry even if they competed bad,” he observed, suggesting that American competitors face fewer consequences for poor performances.
The difference, according to Makhachev, lies in the support system and expectations surrounding competitors from his region. “But behind our guys, there is a family, the whole city, the whole Republic. And he feels this responsibility, and goes out with full responsibility and wins,” he explained. This collective backing creates an environment where an individual fighter carries the hopes and dreams of not just his family, but his entire community.
