Islam Makhachev was robbed during a trip to Italy, with thieves stealing his luggage. Among the stolen items were boots belonging to footballer Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, which Makhachev had obtained. The thieves also took Makhachev's passport, though it was later returned. The post referenced Khabib's previous advice about not reading books about Sicilians, making a humorous connection to the Italian robbery. Details about when and where exactly in Italy the robbery occurred were not provided in the post. This incident adds to occasional security concerns faced by high-profile fighters when traveling internationally.
Islam Makhachev, the reigning UFC Welterweight Champion, was robbed during a recent trip to Italy, with thieves making off with his luggage and several notable personal items before his passport was eventually returned.
Among the stolen belongings were a pair of boots gifted to Makhachev by Georgian football star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, making the theft particularly notable beyond the obvious inconvenience of losing travel documents. The passport was later recovered, though further details about the precise location or timing of the incident were not disclosed. Makhachev acknowledged the episode with a degree of humor, referencing advice previously offered by his teammate and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov about not reading books concerning Sicilians — a tongue-in-cheek nod to the Italian setting of the crime.
Makhachev, 34, enters this period of offseason travel as one of combat sports' most dominant active athletes. The Russian southpaw holds a professional record of 28 wins and one loss, currently sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings, and has built his championship run on a suffocating blend of wrestling and submission grappling. He averages 3.2 takedowns per fifteen minutes and lands submission attempts at a rate of 1.1 per fifteen minutes, complementing a striking accuracy of 58 percent and 2.63 significant strikes landed per minute.
Why it matters
- Makhachev is the UFC Welterweight Champion and the top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter, making any news surrounding him of significant interest to the division
- The recovery of his passport avoids what could have been a more serious disruption to international travel for the champion
- The stolen Kvaratskhelia boots highlight Makhachev's connections within the broader world of European sport and his profile outside of MMA
