UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has repeatedly drawn attention to Dagestan's chaotic construction problem, particularly in Makhachala. Seventeen days ago, during flooding in the region, Makhachev called on regional leadership to address the construction issue, stating that Makhachala has become one chaotic construction site. Today he reposted content from geographer Dmitry Koryukhin, a schoolteacher in Dagestan, who shared aerial photos of Makhachala showing the urban disaster. Makhachev highlighted the problem of poorly built residential complexes constructed too close together and numerous unauthorized buildings, which he views as a serious issue for the region.
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has used his public platform to spotlight what he describes as an urban planning crisis unfolding in Dagestan's capital, Makhachala, following severe flooding in the region roughly two and a half weeks ago.
Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1 record and is widely regarded as one of the premier fighters on the planet, currently ranked at the top of the pound-for-pound standings. The Russian fighter, who trains out of Eagles MMA and competes as a southpaw, has built his championship career on elite grappling — averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes — but away from the cage he has increasingly spoken out on issues affecting his home region.
During the flooding that struck the Dagestan area, Makhachev publicly called on regional leadership to confront what he characterized as rampant, disorganized development, describing Makhachala as having become one enormous chaotic construction site. He has since amplified those concerns by reposting aerial photography shared by Dmitry Koryukhin, a Dagestani schoolteacher and geographer, whose images illustrate the scale of the urban sprawl problem from above.
Makhachev's specific concerns center on densely packed residential complexes that he says are built too close together, alongside a significant number of unauthorized structures throughout the city. He views the combination of poor urban planning and unchecked construction as a genuine long-term threat to the region.
Why it matters
- Makhachev is leveraging his status as a world champion to push for accountability from regional authorities in Dagestan.
- The flooding served as a catalyst, exposing how unauthorized and poorly planned construction can compound the effects of natural disasters.
- By amplifying local voices like Koryukhin's, Makhachev is helping bring wider attention to a municipal governance issue that might otherwise remain regional news.
