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At UFC 267, Islam Makhachev picked up his biggest win to date, submitting Dan Hooker in the first round. The win took Makhachev's streak to nine in a row and, given his dominant performances, there are no signs of him losing any time soon.
Makhachev is looking more and more the part as the heir apparent to the recently retired Khabib Nurmagomedov's throne. The way he swarmed Hooker this Sunday was reminiscent of the grappling-heavy style that Khabib used to great success.
With that being said, Makhachev still has some ways to go in his quest to become UFC lightweight champion. He is also yet to face the majority of the top names in the division, with Hooker being the first high-profile fighter he has defeated.
Given how good Makhachev has looked in his recent performances, it seems clear that it will take an elite fighter at the top of their game to end his current win streak.
On that note, here are five match-ups that could see Islam Makhachev's win streak finally come to an end:
#5. Michael Chandler vs. Islam Makhachev
Michael Chandler is currently scheduled to face Justin Gaethje at UFC 268 this weekend. Regardless of the result, Chandler could find himself taking on Islam Makhachev next.
While 'Iron' may be relatively new to fans who only watch the UFC, he has been taking on elite fighters and competing in championship bouts for years. His latest fight saw him come incredibly close to adding UFC gold to his resume.
Chandler boasts both exceptional wrestling skills and powerful striking that could pose a challenge for Makhachev. He, like Makhachev, finished Dan Hooker in the first round in a performance that showed everyone just how dangerous he can be.
Having the knockout power that Chandler possesses is an important path to victory for anyone facing Makhachev, as he can end any bout with one strike. His wrestling prowess could also be important in preventing Makhachev from taking him down.
While Islam Makhachev would likely be the favorite in this bout in some people's eyes, Chandler is a talented veteran who could provide a difficult match-up.
#4. Justin Gaethje vs. Islam Makhachev
Justin Gaethje has not fought since losing to Islam Makhachev's mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254. That will change this weekend when he takes on Michael Chandler at UFC 268.
Following that fight, perhaps we could see 'The Highlight' take on Makhachev. A bout against Gaethje would be a great indicator of just how close Makhachev has come to replicating the level Khabib displayed during his unbeaten tenure.
Gaethje was able to turn in a solid first round. He hurt Khabib with his leg kicks, and that could give him a blueprint to follow against Makhachev.
In his fight against 'The Eagle', Gaethje was able to maintain separation from Nurmagomedov and strike from the outside. While he couldn't keep it up on that occasion, it doesn't seem unlikely that he may be able to against Makhachev, particularly if it were to be a three-round fight.
Gaethje will have learned from his experiences inside the octagon against 'The Eagle'. Also, a shorter bout would mean that he has more energy to expend defending takedowns, which seemed to be a problem for him in the Khabib fight.
#3. Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev
While it may seem a little odd that the current lightweight champion is only #3 on this list, this purely comes down to who matches up best against Makhachev's distinctive style in a division loaded with talent.
Charles Oliveira has long been known for his excellent jiu-jitsu skills and submission holds. Recently, he has also displayed a much-improved stand-up game. We saw that in his championship-winning victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 262.
Thanks to this varied skill set, Oliveira has multiple ways to win a fight with Makhachev. Oliveira would have the advantage on the feet, and should he get taken down, he could still be dangerous with his submissions.
However, Islam Makhachev's knack for securing the takedown could provide issues for the current champion. He is also a talented enough grappler that he may be able to avoid any attempted submission attempts and dominate proceedings on the ground.
#2. Conor McGregor vs. Islam Makhachev
While an increasing number of people are questioning Conor McGregor following consecutive losses to Dustin Poirier, he definitely has a skillset that could trouble Islam Makhachev.
'The Notorious' remains very capable of knocking opponents out and has shown a knack for getting back to his feet after a takedown. The story behind this fight would also be great given McGregor's rivalry with Islam's mentor Khabib.
The bout is unlikely to take place anytime soon, given McGregor's injury and the likelihood that this would not be his first fight back. However, if Makhachev is able to capture the title and McGregor can return to winning ways, perhaps we could see these two fight one day.
Makhachev would have to be very alert in this potential bout to avoid McGregor's power shots. In the past, this has been Makhachev's undoing, as we saw at UFC 192 when he was knocked out by Adriano Martins.
#1. Dustin Poirier vs. Islam Makhachev
Dustin Poirier has another chance to be crowned the undisputed lightweight champion for the first time at UFC 269.
Poirier has looked phenomenal recently, as shown by his two consecutive finishes of Conor McGregor. He also caught a glimpse of Islam Makhachev's style when he took on Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242. Poirier arguably came the closest to defeating 'The Eagle'. He locked in a deep guillotine on the Dagestani, only for Nurmagomedov to escape after much struggle.
If anyone can solve the puzzle Makhachev presents, it is likely to be Poirier. He has demonstrated that all facets of his game are currently at an elite level. Perhaps we will get to see these two square off in 2022.
