Islam Makhachev had his luggage stolen during a trip to Italy, with the stolen items including soccer boots belonging to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The UFC lightweight champion's passport was also taken in the theft but was later returned to him. The post references a previous comment by Khabib Nurmagomedov about not reading books about Sicilians, making a humorous connection to the Italian theft. Limited additional details about the circumstances of the robbery or recovery of items were provided in the brief report.
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev found himself dealing with an unexpected headache during a trip to Italy after his luggage was stolen, with the missing items including a pair of soccer boots belonging to Napoli winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Makhachev's passport was among the stolen belongings as well, though it was subsequently returned to him.
Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1 record and currently sits atop the welterweight division as champion, as well as ranking number one pound-for-pound in the UFC. The Russian fighter, who trains out of Eagles MMA, has built his dominance through a suffocating blend of grappling and striking, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing significant strikes at a 58 percent accuracy rate. He is one of the most complete fighters in the sport today.
The incident drew a humorous response online, with a nod to a previous remark by teammate and mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov about not reading books about Sicilians — a tongue-in-cheek reference to the Italian setting of the theft.
Why it matters
- Makhachev's passport was recovered, so no immediate disruption to his travel or professional schedule is reported
- The Kvaratskhelia boots add an unusual footnote, connecting two of the most prominent athletes from the post-Soviet sporting world
- The story offers a rare candid, off-duty glimpse of the pound-for-pound king away from competition
