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Islam Makhachev vs Justin Gaethje

Two greats, side by side: honours, records, money and the numbers that define them.

Islam MakhachevIslam Makhachev Justin GaethjeJustin Gaethje
UFCSportUFC
RussiaNationalityUnited States
October 27, 1991BornNovember 14, 1988
1.78 m / 5 ft 10 inHeight1.80 m / 5 ft 11 in
$6MNet worth$4M
4Major honours5
3Records2

Career Numbers

29Total Fights-
28Wins-
1Losses-
5Knockouts21
13Submissions1 win by submission
10Decisions6 wins by decision
-MMA Record28 wins, 5 losses
-Amateur Record28 wins, 5 losses

Honours Side by Side

Islam Makhachev (4)

  • UFC Lightweight Champion
  • UFC Welterweight Champion
  • Combat Sambo World Champion
  • Two-time Russian National Champion

Justin Gaethje (5)

  • UFC Interim Lightweight Champion
  • WSOF Lightweight Champion
  • Fight of the Night Bonuses
  • Post-Fight Bonuses
  • NCAA Division I All-American

The Case for Each

Justin Gaethje brings the heavier trophy cabinet: 5 documented honours against 4 for Islam Makhachev. Silverware is not the whole story, but it is the first line of any ufc argument.

On records, Islam Makhachev holds 3 documented marks to 2 for Justin Gaethje. The headline entry: Longest Winning Streak in UFC. Records show peaks; honours show sustained dominance. The two lists rarely agree on a winner, which is exactly why this debate refuses to die.

Put the raw numbers side by side and the picture sharpens. Islam Makhachev shows 5 in knockouts; Justin Gaethje answers with 21. Context matters: different leagues, different eras and different roles all bend a stat line, so treat the gap as a conversation starter rather than a verdict.

Put the raw numbers side by side and the picture sharpens. Islam Makhachev shows 13 in submissions; Justin Gaethje answers with 1 win by submission. Context matters: different leagues, different eras and different roles all bend a stat line, so treat the gap as a conversation starter rather than a verdict.

The UFC has taken mixed martial arts from niche curiosity to global spectacle, and its champions are among the most talked-about athletes in combat sport. Every fight can end in a heartbeat, which makes its stars box office in the truest sense. Reputations are made and broken inside the octagon. That backdrop is what makes a matchup like this one resonate beyond the box scores.

Justin Gaethje is the senior figure by roughly 2 years, which frames the comparison: one career is closer to its final shape, the other still has chapters to write.

Commercially, Islam Makhachev leads with an estimated $6M net worth. Earning power tracks fame more than form, but it is part of the legacy question.

Both profiles update daily: Islam Makhachev and Justin Gaethje each carry full stats, honours and news on AthleteWiki.

Full profiles: Islam Makhachev · Justin Gaethje