Islam Makhachev, the reigning lightweight champion of the UFC, and its current pound-for-pound king looks almost invincible in the octagon. Having learned his historically great grappling along with his friend and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov from the latter’s father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, his striking has come a long way too. Which he demonstrated in his rematch with Alexander Volkanovski last year (and indeed his title-winning bout against Charles Oliveira at UFC 280).

However, back in 2015, when he was somewhat of a wide-eyed newcomer to the biggest MMA stage, this was not the case. The only loss in his career came that year when he got knocked out by Adriano Martins. And as he gears up to face Dustin Poirier, one of the greatest strikers in the UFC, on UFC 302 on June 1, we take a look at Abdulmanap’s revelation on the deep lore behind Makhachev’s loss, and why he thought Javier Mendez’s plan for the bout as his ‘biggest regret’.

Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov on why Makhachev got knocked out

In an event in his native Russia years ago, the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, former Russian Army combat sambo coach, patriarch, and coach of the Nurmagomedov clan as well as Islam Makhachev, spoke about the latter’s sole loss.

The senior Nurmagomedov revealed that prior to Makhachev’s UFC 192 clash against Adriano Martins, he was approached by Makhachev and Mendez. The two tried to convince the Dagestani coach that Makhachev had polished his skills enough to exchange blows with Martins, which he vehemently disagreed with.

“In my work, I think the biggest regret is that I agreed with Javier Mendez about exchanging punches in Islam fight [against Adriano Martins]. Islam came up to me and said ‘I’ll exchange punches’. I said ‘You can give the first round as a last resort, but don’t go in exchange, he is very dangerous in the first round’. To which Javier said, ‘Islam is ready, let him do it.’ I did not agree with them,” he revealed.

However, the duo persisted in trying to convince him to acquiesce to the plan. So convinced was Abdulmanap that having Makhachev strike against Martins was a disastrous idea, that he had Mendez and Makhachev write in his journal that he was not on board with their plan to engage in a stand-up fight against the Brazilian striker.

“For a week they both tried to persuade me– my student and my partner-fellow coach. I think Javier is the best coach in the world at the moment. I’m only after him in Europe and Russia. I wrote in my journal and made them both write that I didn’t agree with this plan,” he added.

In the end, true to the former Russian Army man’s predictions, Makhachev got dropped in the first round, suffering the first and only loss in his pro-MMA career. Post which, Abdulmanap (rightfully and somewhat sardonically) would caution the reigning lightweight champ against discounting his advice.

“Islam Makhachev got dropped, fell. This is his first defeat. That’s why I tell Islam ‘Dont listen to me if you want to get KOed again’,” Abdulmanap asserted proudly.

While there is nothing that could be done to change the result of Makhachev’s humiliating loss, the Dagestani is en route to carving his corner in the GOAT conversation with his performances in the promotion since then.

Islam Makhachev on the cusp of making history

Since the infamous loss, Islam Makhachev has come a long way. Right now, going into his first title defense against a lightweight, the Dagestani is sitting on a thirteen-fight win streak. This is quite an achievement in itself, as it has put him in the same league as some of the greatest ever.

What Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Demetrious Johnson have in common is that they are all GOAT contenders. Another common thing between them is all of them won thirteen consecutive fights in the UFC. Along, of course, with Makhachev himself. And if the Makhachkala native can get through Poirier on Saturday, he would have left them behind in terms of consecutive wins in the UFC. What do you think will happen?