Islam Makhachev leads Russian fighters with 17 UFC victories

A new statistical breakdown of UFC wins by nationality places Islam Makhachev at the top of the all-time list for Russian fighters, with 17 victories inside the organization — more than any other athlete from the country.

Makhachev, 34, is the reigning welterweight champion and currently holds the number-one spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. He carries a 28-1-0 professional record and fights out of Eagles MMA. His game is built on suffocating grappling — 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes — combined with a 58 percent striking accuracy that ranks among the sharpest in the sport.

Alexander Volkov sits second on the list with 14 UFC wins, while Khabib Nurmagomedov, despite having been retired for several years, ranks third with 13 victories. Nurmagomedov finished his career 29-0-0 and was one of the most dominant grapplers the UFC has ever seen, averaging 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. Petr Yan, Magomed Ankalaev, and Nikita Krylov are tied for fourth with 12 wins each.

Krylov, who represents Ukraine rather than Russia, has 12 of his 31 career victories coming inside the UFC. The 34-year-old light heavyweight is currently ranked 13th in his division and stands six-foot-three with a 77-inch reach. He averages 4.36 significant strikes per minute and posts 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a threat in multiple areas. Movsar Evloev, Rustam Khabilov, and Arman Tsarukyan each sit at 10 UFC wins to round out the list.

Why it matters

• Makhachev's lead is likely to grow; he is an active champion still competing at the highest level
• The list spans multiple weight classes, reflecting how broadly Russian athletes have established themselves across the UFC roster
• Khabib's third-place standing, achieved across just 13 UFC bouts, underscores how efficiently he operated before retirement