Islam Makhachev was robbed during a trip to Italy with his luggage stolen. Among the stolen items were boots belonging to footballer Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Makhachev's passport was also taken but was later returned to him. The post referenced Khabib Nurmagomedov's previous advice about not reading books about Sicilians, making a humorous connection to the Italian theft. Details about when the incident occurred or other circumstances were limited in the brief announcement.
Islam Makhachev found himself the victim of theft during a recent trip to Italy, with his luggage stolen in an incident that also claimed his passport — though the travel document was subsequently recovered and returned to him.
Among the more unusual items reported missing were boots belonging to Georgian football star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, suggesting Makhachev had crossed paths with the PSG winger at some point during the trip. The circumstances surrounding the theft and its exact timing were not fully detailed in the announcement.
Adding a lighter touch to the episode, Makhachev's camp referenced prior advice from teammate and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov about avoiding books on Sicilians — a tongue-in-cheek nod to the Italian setting of the incident.
Makhachev, 34, currently holds the welterweight title and sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings, carrying a record of 28 wins and one loss. The Dagestan-born fighter represents Eagles MMA and is widely regarded as one of the most complete competitors in the sport, combining elite grappling — averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes — with a striking accuracy of 58 percent.
The theft appears to be a personal inconvenience rather than anything connected to his fighting career, but the story drew attention given Makhachev's status as the sport's premier pound-for-pound champion. The recovery of his passport at least ensures no disruption to his travel plans going forward.
