Islam Makhachev has repeatedly drawn attention to what he calls the "chaotic construction" problem in Dagestan, particularly in Makhachkala. The UFC champion has highlighted issues including low-quality residential complexes built too close together and widespread unauthorized construction. Seventeen days ago, amid flooding in Dagestan, Makhachev appealed to regional leadership to address the construction situation, stating that Makhachkala has become one large disorganized construction site. He recently reposted content from geographer Dmitry Koryukhin, who teaches in Dagestan, showing aerial photos that illustrate the urban planning disaster. Makhachev's public stance brings attention to broader infrastructure and development issues in the region.
Islam Makhachev, the reigning UFC welterweight champion, has used his public profile to repeatedly call out what he describes as "chaotic construction" plaguing Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan in southern Russia.
Makhachev, who holds a professional record of 28-1 and competes out of Eagles MMA, has directed criticism at low-quality residential developments built in close proximity to one another, as well as widespread unauthorized construction across the city. Seventeen days before this report, amid flooding in the Dagestan region, he made a direct appeal to regional leadership, stating that Makhachkala had effectively become one large, disorganized construction site. He has since amplified the issue by reposting aerial photography shared by Dmitry Koryukhin, a geographer who teaches in Dagestan, with the images offering a visual account of the urban planning problems Makhachev has described.
The 34-year-old Russian southpaw is widely regarded as one of the sport's elite competitors, currently ranked number one in the pound-for-pound standings. Inside the octagon he is known for a suffocating grappling-based approach, averaging 3.2 takedowns per fifteen minutes alongside a striking accuracy rate of 58 percent. Outside of it, he has increasingly become a vocal presence on issues affecting his home region.
Why it matters
- Makhachev's platform as UFC champion gives unusual reach to a regional infrastructure debate that might otherwise receive limited attention.
- The flooding context that prompted his appeal suggests the construction issues carry real public-safety implications beyond aesthetics or urban planning.
- His decision to amplify academic and journalistic voices, such as Koryukhin's aerial documentation, signals a considered effort to ground the criticism in verifiable evidence.
