Islam makhachev Behind the scenes at the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/islam_makhachev
Islam makhachev He also plays basketball. The current UFC welterweight champion (up to 77kg) participated in a basketball tournament in Dagestan for the Nurmagomedov MMA School and put on a show, scoring points and helping on defense.
The profile 'ParamPam1990' from X, formerly Twitter, shows Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov's team entering the field for their first game in the Dagestani basketball tournament. Islam makhachev I was among those selected.
Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov's team walking out for their first match at the Caspian Cup wrestball tournament in Dagestan today. 👇
Murad Machaev is the captain. UFC champion Islam makhachev is on the team, so is PFL's Gadzhi Rabadanov. pic.twitter.com/LPRL7mznSS— PAM (@ParamPam1990) January 6, 2026
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And the UFC champion, Islam makhachev, he showed his talent by scoring the first point for the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov MMA School against Tarki Tau in the tournament.
And UFC champion Islam makhachev scores the first one for the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov MMA School against Tarki Tau at the Caspian Cup wrestball tournament.🏀🗑️🙌 https://t.co/V9lwUVKKO9 pic.twitter.com/Ivk0ZD0b0A
— PAM (@ParamPam1990) January 6, 2026
Islam didn't just help on offense. The UFC welterweight champion also participated in defensive moments, even taking down opponents from his team.
Islam makhachev gets the takedown in the Dagestan basketball tournament 😅🏀
(Via @ParamPam1990 ) pic.twitter.com/HTkeaiQFlF
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) January 6, 2026
How does basketball work in Dagestan?
In this variation of basketball, the rules have been altered and include: a ban on stepping violations, fouls, and going out of bounds. As it is a sport from Dagestan, physical contact is also permitted. Dagestani basketball is a peculiar hybrid of basketball, rugby, and MMA, all combined into one sport.
The goal of the sport is not a casual match between friends, but rather to warm up the fighters before they train their grappling skills.
The extreme intensity of the game would likely leave an average person exhausted in just a few minutes, but most Dagestani wrestlers who compete in this sport often fast, abstaining from food and water during Ramadan, while they play.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has also tried his hand at basketball in Dagestan.
The former UFC lightweight champion (up to 70,3 kg). Khabib Nurmagomedov He is considered one of the greatest fighters to ever step into the octagon. However, it's not only in MMA that the Dagestani fighter ventures.
Khabib Nurmagomedov He has already showcased his skills in the unique Dagestan basketball game, in preparation for his fight against Conor McGregor In 2018, Nurmagomedov even attempted to submit his opponent with a rear-naked choke during the match.
“We’ve played this (Dagestane basketball) throughout our professional careers; it’s like a warm-up before practice. It’s a bit difficult to compete against four strong men without basketball rules. We play for about 35 to 40 minutes running, sprinting, everything…”
"Today we didn't have a very heavy workout, but something similar to basketball, and after that we did some running and conditioning, and then we finished, because we haven't eaten anything all day," he said. Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018.
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