UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev posted a photo on social media alongside welterweight prospect Ramazan Kuramagomedov. Makhachev captioned the image with a statement that the welterweight division belongs to their team. The post appears to signal support for Kuramagomedov's campaign at 170 pounds. Both fighters train together in Dagestan and are part of the extended Nurmagomedov training circle. The social media exchange highlights the growing influence of Dagestani fighters across multiple UFC divisions.
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev took to social media this week to post a photo alongside unbeaten welterweight prospect Ramazan Kuramagomedov, pairing the image with a message that the 170-pound division belongs to their team.
Makhachev, 34, carries a 28-1 record and holds the number-one pound-for-pound ranking in the UFC. The Dagestani southpaw stands five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach and has built his championship reign on a suffocating blend of grappling and precision striking, landing significant strikes at 58 percent accuracy and averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes for Eagles MMA.
Kuramagomedov, also from Russia, enters the conversation as one of welterweight's more intriguing unbeaten names. The 29-year-old is a perfect 8-0, stands six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach, and posts a striking accuracy rate of 67 percent alongside a remarkable 11.67 significant strikes landed per minute — figures that suggest an aggressive, high-output style inside the Octagon. He competes out of American Top Team.
Both fighters are connected through the broader Nurmagomedov training circle in Dagestan, and Makhachev's public endorsement reflects the collective ambition that group has shown across multiple UFC weight classes.
Why it matters
- Makhachev's public backing adds visibility to Kuramagomedov's welterweight campaign at a critical stage of the prospect's career.
- Kuramagomedov's undefeated record and elite striking output make him a credible threat in a deep 170-pound division.
- The post underscores the growing footprint of Dagestani fighters as a force across more than one UFC weight class.
