What sets Russian fighters, particularly those from Dagestan, apart? It’s their profound Muslim brotherhood and the deep respect they share for one another. From sharing meals to sparring side by side, these combatants have redefined loyalty within the fight world, setting a standard that transcends just the Dagestani community. This bond extends even to their friends outside of Russia. A prime example of this is Belal Muhammad. Now the reigning welterweight champion, the Palestinian-American publicly expressed his gratitude for Islam Makhachev and Team Khabib’s support, even going so far as to dismiss the idea of fighting him.

This gesture of respect stems from their shared mentorship under UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, reflecting just one chapter in the Dagestani brotherhood’s impactful MMA journey, which is rich with such moments of camaraderie. Recently, another page was turned in this ongoing story. Undefeated featherweight contender Movsar Evloev made an appearance on the Overdog Podcast, where the host brought up Evloev’s rise as the leading contender for the featherweight title.

The host asked, “Let’s say you become champion and successfully defend your title three times. How would a fight between you and Islam Makhachev look?” Evloev swiftly shut down the idea of facing Makhachev, saying, “Me and Islam? This guy can kill me because he’s my older brother. I am never gonna fight him.”

The brotherhood within Team Khabib runs far deeper than just training partnerships or shared gyms. It’s a bond rooted in loyalty and respect—one that now stretches across borders. Case in point: Islam Makhachev. As he prepares for a likely move to welterweight, he’s chasing a feat even his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, never pursued—becoming a two-division UFC champion.

Makhachev has already hinted that 2025 could mark the end of his run at lightweight. That has sparked talks of a potential clash with undefeated welterweight sensation Shavkat Rakhmonov, a fellow Muslim fighter from Kazakhstan—Dagestan’s neighboring nation. But when asked about the matchup, Islam’s teammate and Bellator champion Usman Nurmagomedov put the speculation to rest with a single word: “Brothers.” Despite the public show of unity, UFC insiders see these hypothetical matchups between elite Muslim fighters as a looming dilemma for Makhachev’s future—both professionally and personally. Let’s dig deeper into what the UFC insider had to say.

UFC Legends highlight ‘Big Problem’ in Islam Makhachev’s decision to move up to welterweight

After four title defenses in the lightweight division, Islam Makhachev is ready to move on from the 155-pound division. He’s already planning to close this chapter, feeling that there’s “not much competition left” at lightweight. Makhachev has spent nearly a decade in the 155-pound category, but according to Michael Bisping, there’s one complication left in his career: Khabib Nurmagomedov. ‘The Eagle’, who never allowed Makhachev to move up to 170 pounds, continues to be a major factor in Makhachev’s potential transition to welterweight.

Bisping also pointed out that had Belal Muhammad, who has a strong bond with Team Khabib, still been the welterweight champion, he likely would not have moved to the middleweight division. Bisping explained the primary obstacle for Makhachev in his recent YouTube video, stating, “Khabib is very controlling of who he allows into his gym. I have heard stories and seen clips where he can’t believe it if somebody steps in, shares training tips, techniques, or a methodology on how they prepare for a fight. They become brothers, and you can’t allow anyone in… And I don’t think he would allow Islam and Belal to face each other anyway. So the theory of Islam stepping up to 170, there’s a big, big problem with that because of Khabib. Because they have trained together.”

What’s your opinion on the “Muslim brotherhood” within Team Khabib and its effect on potential matchups? Do you think it’s best for the fighters to maintain these bonds and avoid facing each other, or should career ambitions take precedence over personal connections? Share your thoughts below.