Pound-for-Pound king reflects on lone UFC defeat

Islam Makhachev says his lone MMA defeat served as a humbling lesson from God, offering context for a pivotal turn early in his UFC career. In remarks to Arena Fight TV, the UFC champion revisited his 2015 knockout by Adriano Martins and the immediate prayer that followed. Training at American Kickboxing Academy with Khabib Nurmagomedov after a debut submission of Leo Kuntz, he believed pressure alone would suffice. He noted feeling unbeatable amid AKA champions and having no specific plan. Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov opposed showcasing striking, while Javier Mendez supported it. Makhachev later credited the setback as shaping a smarter approach before winning UFC titles at lightweight and welterweight.