issue 223

November 2025

Sometimes it’s what you don’t see that matters most. Islam Makhachev made history at UFC 322, but anyone who’s followed his rise knows the real story is how he got there. While Khabib Nurmagomedov didn’t take centre stage, he didn’t need to. He propped up the champion as he always has, by being present and steady, shaping outcomes without ever reaching for the spotlight. It has become his preferred position. Since retiring, Khabib has operated like a quiet gravitational field around Makhachev. Subtle cues during the walkout. A single instruction between rounds. A man who built a dynasty is now pouring that blueprint into his closest friend. Makhachev becomes a two-weight champion, tying Anderson Silva’s win streak. Islam may be the champion on the poster, but the architecture behind him is unmistakably Khabib. Dagestan doesn’t seem to do solo acts. It does succession. And UFC 322 felt less like the crowning of a new king and more like the continuation of a plan drawn years ago on a mountain far from Madison Square Garden.