Who would have thought that when Khabib Nurmagomedov walked away from the UFC, unscathed and undefeated, his protege would step up, take his place, and display similar skills and domination within the Octagon? Obviously, we are talking about Islam Makhachev, who’s coming back in action for his welterweight debut fight in the UFC against Jack Della Maddalena.

When Nurmagomedov was fighting in the Octagon, Islam Makhachev would watch him and learn. Now, it is his turn, and he has done more than just prove himself within the cage. Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, was the mentor and coach for both fighters, and today, we shall learn more about this Dagestani champion.

How Many Children Does Islam Makhachev Have?

Former UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, known for his private personal life rooted in Dagestani cultural norms, has kept details about his family largely out of the spotlight. For the longest time, fans had information about only one child that the Russian fighter had, his daughter, who’s also his firstborn. 

However, during his podcast appearance with MMA legend Demetrious Johnson on ‘Migty Cast’ last year, the former UFC lightweight champion revealed that he has a total of three children, with two of them being boys, and they’re pretty young. When asked about how many children he had, Makhachev shocked fans unknowingly.

“Three [children]… girl [is the eldest and], boy, boy,” Makhachev told ‘Mighty Mouse’. He also revealed that his youngest son was born ten days before he did the podcast. While parents aren’t supposed to have favorites, like many, Makhachev can’t help it. 

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Islam Makhachev’s Daughter: His Special Bond and Missing Her During Training

Makhachev shares a deep bond with his daughter, but his demanding fighting career often keeps him away from her. Since rising to stardom in the UFC, his schedule has become even more packed with fights, media duties, and promotional commitments. This has left little time for family. The prolonged absences have taken an emotional toll on him and have made him feel guilty about missing out on key moments in his daughter’s life.

After his dominant win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 280, the lightweight champion revealed his longing to spend more time with his loved ones, especially his daughter. Makhachev acknowledged that the rigorous nature of training camps and global travel has kept him from watching her grow. While he also expressed a desire to reconnect with his parents, he admitted that being separated from his daughter has been the hardest part of his journey. And he had more to say.

What Did Islam Makhachev Say About Balancing Fatherhood and UFC Career?

Despite being private, Islam Makhachev opened up about the challenges of balancing his fighting career with fatherhood after his win over Oliveira. “Last couple [of] months, I watched the video [of] how my daughter is growing up without me. But after [a] couple [of] days, I’m gonna be home,” Makhachev said during the post-fight press conference.

His words reflected the emotional toll that comes with pursuing greatness at the highest level of MMA. While he continues to dominate the UFC’s lightweight division, Makhachev’s heartfelt comments showed another side of him. He will be hoping his sacrifices don’t go to waste this weekend at UFC 322 in New York, when he will be away from his daughter and other children again.