Islam Makhachev has repeatedly drawn attention to what he calls the "chaotic construction" problem in Dagestan, particularly in Makhachkala. Seventeen days ago, during ongoing flooding in the region, Makhachev appealed to regional leadership to address the construction issues, stating that "Makhachkala has turned into one chaotic construction site." Recently, he reposted content from geographer Dmitry Koryukhin, a school teacher in Dagestan, showing aerial photographs that illustrate the urban planning disaster. The post describes how low-quality residential complexes are being built close together across the region. Makhachev's public comments highlight his concern about poor urban development impacting his home region.
Islam Makhachev, the reigning UFC Welterweight Champion and pound-for-pound number one fighter in the world, has used his public platform to speak out about what he describes as a deepening urban development crisis in his home region of Dagestan, Russia.
The 34-year-old Makhachev, who carries a professional record of 28-1 and trains out of Eagles MMA, has made no secret of his frustration with the situation in Makhachkala, the regional capital. Seventeen days before this report, amid ongoing flooding in the area, he directly appealed to regional leadership, stating that the city had become "one chaotic construction site." More recently, he amplified the issue by reposting aerial photography shared by Dagestan-based geographer and school teacher Dmitry Koryukhin, which visually documents the scale of the problem. The images depict densely packed, low-quality residential complexes being erected across the region with little apparent regard for planning standards.
Why it matters
- Makhachev is among the most prominent public figures to emerge from Dagestan, giving his comments significant reach both domestically and internationally.
- His appeal targeted regional leadership directly, framing the issue as one requiring urgent governmental attention rather than individual action.
- The flooding context added immediacy to his criticism, suggesting the construction practices may be compounding environmental and infrastructure pressures on the region.
Makhachev's willingness to engage with local civic issues reflects a pattern of using his profile beyond sport. As one of the most decorated fighters in MMA today — posting a striking accuracy of 58 percent and averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career — he commands an audience well beyond the fight community, and his comments on Dagestan's urban planning crisis have brought wider attention to concerns that local residents and educators like Koryukhin have been raising on the ground.
