The latest victory of Islam Makhachev has cemented his status as one of the promotion’s most dominant fighters. In Makhachev‘s recent bout against pound-for-pound #1 UFC fighter Alexander Volkanovski, the Russian emerged victorious won, defeating the UFC featherweight champion on his home turf. This remarkable feat has earned him the Sali Suleiman medal. It is the highest honor that the Ministry of Sports of Dagestan can give, where the 31-year-old hails from.

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However, not all fans and experts were convinced of Makhachev‘s win. Many believed that Volkanovski was the more dominant fighter and came extremely close to finishing the lightweight champ. Moreover, some even criticized a UFC legend for siding with Makhachev, further fueling the controversy surrounding the match. Nevertheless, #2 p4p continues to enjoy a loyal fan base, with many still praising him for his impressive achievement.

Fans respond to Islam Makhachev receiving Sali Suleiman medal

The excitement and sense of fulfillment were quite evident in the fans’ response. Despite the recent backlash he has been facing, his fans still showed incredible support for the Dagestani fighter.

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Here’s what the fans had to say:

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A fan said:

One fan said that Makhachev made stops at other places as well:

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Another fan said:

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Some fans also called him the P4P King:

Meanwhile, one fan gave some insight:

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Whilst a fan asked:

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A fan doesn’t value it much:

Some fans mocked Volkanovski:

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Fans clearly show much they love Makhachev and how much this accolade means not only to him but to his admirers as well. Moreover, once in the past Sergey Melikov showed his excitement about Makhachev as well

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Head of Dagestan hails Makhachev’s title win

Sergey Melikov, the head of the Russian Republic of Dagestan, expressed his excitement when Makhachev became the UFC champion by defeating Charles Oliveira. According to Melikov, they had been eagerly awaiting the fight and were confident of Makhachev‘s victory.

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In his statement, Melikov said, “Islam Makhachev is a UFC champion! We all waited for this fight and had no doubt that this would be the result. After the retirement of Khabib Nurmagomedov, the belt briefly stayed with a representative of another country [Charles Oliveira], and today it has returned home – to Russia! Dagestani sportsmen have again become first in such a prestigious league.

UFC: Islam Makhachev

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Melikov expressed his relief and happiness that another Dagestani athlete had regained the UFC championship belt after Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s retirement. Moreover, the people of Dagestan have a strong tradition of producing exceptional athletes, and Makhachev‘s victory is a testament to their ongoing success.

Watch This Story: Alexander Volkanovski’s Coach Reveals a Depressing Incident That Almost Led to the Retirement of the Great

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Himakshu Vyas

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Himakshu Vyas is a Combat Sports author at Essentiallysports. He is passionate about sports, with soccer and MMA being the sports he is most involved in. Aside from that, he follows the global soccer scene. He is a die-hard Manchester United supporter for over a decade. Himakshu loves to play soccer with his friends a few times a week and indulges in MMA training daily to stay fit. This has helped him gain the perspective of a participant in the sports world. He is a huge fan of the first UFC two-division champion 'The Notorious' Connor McGregor and Jon Jones. He respects and looks up to MMA athletes, as he believes the world of MMA is teeming with disciplinarians and athletes who devote their lives to achieving a god-like physique to compete at the highest level. Apart from sports, he loves to travel and cook. He likes to explore different cuisines on the road and creates his own version of the recipes.

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Vineet Nandwana