Islam Makhachev has once again drawn attention to construction problems in Dagestan, particularly the issue of haphazard building projects in Makhachkala. Seventeen days ago, during flooding in Dagestan, Makhachev called on regional leadership to address the construction chaos, stating that Makhachkala has become "one chaotic construction site." He recently reposted content from geographer Dmitry Koryukhin, a school teacher in Dagestan who shared aerial photos illustrating the urban disaster. The post highlights broader issues of low-quality residential complexes built close together and poor urban planning across Russia. Makhachev is praised for using his platform to highlight these regional problems.
Islam Makhachev is using his considerable public profile to shine a light on what he describes as a urban planning crisis unfolding in his home region of Dagestan, amplifying criticism of disorganized construction in the regional capital Makhachkala.
The UFC welterweight champion, who holds a 28-1-0 professional record and is ranked at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings, has now spoken out on the issue on multiple occasions. The 34-year-old Russian fighter, who trains out of Eagles MMA, first raised the alarm seventeen days before his most recent post, during a period of flooding in Dagestan, when he called on regional leadership to take action and described Makhachkala as "one chaotic construction site." He has since amplified the message by reposting aerial photography shared by Dmitry Koryukhin, a geography teacher based in Dagestan, whose images illustrate the scale of the urban disorder. The photos highlight densely packed, low-quality residential developments that critics say reflect broader failures in urban planning seen across Russia.
Makhachev has drawn praise from observers for leveraging his platform — built on one of the most decorated careers in the sport, including a 58 percent striking accuracy and an aggressive grappling game averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes — to advocate on behalf of his community on issues that extend well beyond the cage.
Why it matters
- Makhachev is one of the most recognizable athletes to come out of Dagestan, giving his public statements significant reach both domestically and internationally.
- His repeated focus on the issue suggests a sustained advocacy effort rather than a one-off comment.
- The reposting of Koryukhin's aerial imagery moves the conversation from opinion to documented visual evidence, adding weight to the criticism of regional authorities.
