Islam Makhachev was robbed during a trip to Italy, with thieves stealing his luggage that contained boots belonging to Georgian footballer Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The stolen items also included Makhachev's passport, which was later returned. The post references Khabib's previous warning not to read books about Sicilians, making a humorous connection to the Italian theft. Details about when the robbery occurred or other circumstances are limited in the report.
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev found himself the victim of theft during a recent trip to Italy, with thieves making off with his luggage in an incident that has since drawn attention on social media.
Among the stolen items were boots belonging to Georgian football star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, which Makhachev had been carrying, along with his passport. The passport was subsequently recovered and returned, though details surrounding the full circumstances of the robbery remain limited.
Makhachev, 34, currently holds the welterweight title and carries a record of 28 wins and just one defeat. The Russian fighter, who trains out of Eagles MMA alongside former lightweight king Khabib Nurmagomedov, is widely regarded as one of the sport's most dominant champions. Standing five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach, he is a relentless pressure fighter who lands 2.63 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 58 percent, while also averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes to complement his elite grappling.
The social media post referencing the incident included a nod to Khabib's well-known quip about not reading books concerning Sicilians, drawing a lighthearted parallel to the Italian setting of the theft.
Why it matters
- Makhachev is one of the sport's most high-profile champions, making any off-octagon incident newsworthy
- The humorous framing on social media kept the tone light despite the seriousness of losing a passport abroad
- The connection to Kvaratskhelia adds an unusual cross-sport dimension to the story
