5 times Islam Makhachev scored a 10-7 on social media in 2024

Reigning UFC lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev has garnered widespread praise for being one of the most skilled grapplers in the sport of MMA. His striking has also improved in leaps and bounds in recent years, making him an incredibly well-rounded fighter. However, one aspect that the Dagestani combatant seldom receives the deserved credit for is his criminally underrated trash talk.

Of course, some netizens often allege that his longtime manager, Ali Abdelaziz, is the one handling the Russian UFC star's official social media handles and directing trash talk against his foes in the English language. Those allegations notwithstanding, it'd be unfair to say that Makhachev doesn't get in a few stinging zingers against his foes on social media every now and then.

This year was even more intriguing in that regard, as Makhachev received considerable attention with his jibes on social media. Today, we look at some of his very best social media attacks, which, if they were scored akin to rounds in an MMA fight, would fetch him a 10-7 on the scorecards!

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#5 Islam Makhachev goes scorched earth on Michael Chandler

Islam Makhachev has long been at odds with ex-Bellator lightweight kingpin and current UFC lightweight staple Michael Chandler. They've often traded barbs on social media. Through 2024, many fans criticized Chandler, questioning why he waited so long for a possible fight against combat sports megastar Conor McGregor, being inactive from November 2022 to November 2024.

Well, Chandler was officially booked to face McGregor in a welterweight bout at UFC 303 (June 2024), but a toe injury ruled the Irishman out, and 'Iron's' return got postponed yet again. Makhachev, who's a childhood friend of Khabib Nurmagomedov, has also long been a staunch opposer of McGregor.

After McGregor's withdrawal from UFC 303, Makhachev mocked Chandler, reaffirming the theory that Chandler hurt his own career by endlessly waiting for a big-money matchup against the former two-division UFC champion. Taking to X, he beratingly offered his "condolences to Michael 'Hachiko' Chandler" -- comparing Chandler to the legendarily loyal Japanese dog 'Hachiko,' albeit negatively.

Additionally, in July, Makhachev once again insinuated that Chandler was acting akin to a loyal pet for McGregor. Russia's Makhachev is a proud representative of his Sambo-influenced grappling skills, whereas America's Chandler is known to proudly represent and use his American amateur wrestling-influenced grappling prowess.

Chandler tweeted about his American wrestling's superiority over Makhachev's Sambo style, to which Makhachev replied by implying that Chandler was controlled by McGregor:

"You are unreliable dude, one tweet from your master, and you'll run away. Champ needs real opponent."

Check out screenshots of Makhachev's jibes at Chandler below:

Screenshots of tweets

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#4 Islam Makhachev lambasts Dustin Poirier

Ex-interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier has competed for the undisputed UFC lightweight championship thrice and come up short each time -- being submitted by Khabib Nurmagomedov (2019), Charles Oliveira (2021), and Islam Makhachev (June 2024).

In March 2024, prior to Poirier's defeat against Makhachev in June, the latter sounded off on the American. He implied that 'The Diamond' has been a top contender seemingly forever, yet failed to win undisputed gold. Makhachev also jibed that if Poirier were capable of beating the top lightweight, he'd have been the champion:

"Dustin if you could beat anybody, you'd be holding this belt right now, not me"

Makhachev's shots at Poirier, a veteran fighter who's particularly beloved among many hardcore MMA fans, were viewed as rather stinging because they underlined his inability to capture the elusive undisputed lightweight belt despite several opportunities. Well, in June, they clashed inside the octagon and Makhachev ended up stopping him via fifth-round submission.

Check out screenshots of Makhachev's tweets about Poirier below:

Screenshots of tweets about Poirier

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#3 Islam Makhachev rakes up stats against Max Holloway and Justin Gaethje

After knocking out Alexander Volkanovski in their rematch in October 2023, Islam Makhachev didn't return to the octagon until his showdown against Dustin Poirier in June 2024. During that timeframe, many detractors accused him of being an inactive fighter and champion.

Certain sections of the MMA community praised other fan favorites -- including ex-UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway and ex-interim UFC lightweight champion and then-BMF champion Justin Gaethje -- for being more active.

A few days before the Gaethje vs. Holloway BMF title fight at UFC 300 (April 13, 2024), which Holloway won via fifth-round KO, Makhachev targeted both of them as well as their supporters. He pointed out that Holloway had competed five times since 2021, whereas Gaethje had fought just four times since 2021.

Makhachev tweeted that, in comparison, he himself had competed seven times since 2021:

"For the record: since 2021 I fought 7 times, while Holloway did 5 fights and Justin just 4. Do your homework before talking trash about your champ :)"

Makhachev's assertion not only caused quite a stir because of its statistical element but also due to the timing at which he chose to sound off on 'Blessed' and Gaethje -- right on the eve of the landmark tricentennial UFC pay-per-view.

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#2 Islam Makhachev mocks Merab Dvalishvili after recent UFC PI allegations against Umar Nurmagomedov

Reigning UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili generated considerable buzz earlier this month by posting a video to his social media from outside the UFC Performance Institute (PI). 'The Machine' alleged that the UFC security staff disallowed him from entering the facility, as his bantamweight rival Umar Nurmagomedov was inside.

The UFC PI has seen a few fighters clash, so rival fighters are sometimes booked to train in or use separate places at the PI. Dvalishvili, who's set to defend his belt against Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 (Jan. 18, 2025), indicated that he wouldn't attack him before their fight. However, he asserted that the alleged barring was unfair and affected the training, rehab, and other aspects of his routine.

Incidentally, Islam Makhachev is booked to defend his UFC lightweight belt in a rematch against Arman Tsarukyan in the UFC 311 headliner. Makhachev has long trained alongside Umar Nurmagomedov, who's a cousin of the former's close friend Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Seemingly mocking Dvalishvili after his UFC PI allegations, Makhachev took to his Instagram Stories and posted an image of himself and Umar at the UFC PI with the caption:

"In the OFFICE"

Check out a screenshot of Makhachev's post below:

Screenshot of Makhachev's Instagram Stories post

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#1 Islam Makhachev trolls Conor McGregor

Islam Makhachev's rivalry with Conor McGregor is believed to be an extension of the Irishman's feud against Khabib Nurmagomedov. Since Nurmagomedov's retirement in October 2020, some fans have called for Makhachev to fight McGregor in another Dagestan vs. Ireland grudge match.

After McGregor withdrew from his welterweight bout against Michael Chandler, which was to headline UFC 303 in June 2024, Makhachev sounded off on 'The Notorious,' mocking him for pulling out due to a toe injury. Makhachev tweeted:

"You don't need a pinkie toe for a fight lol. Chicken"

Furthermore, in August 2024, Islam Makhachev trolled Conor McGregor yet again. He refreshed fight fans' memories by harking back to McGregor's first-ever knockout defeat in the sport of MMA, a second-round TKO loss in his rematch against Dustin Poirier in January 2021 -- McGregor's first knockout loss in combat sports overall came in boxing against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2017.

In an apparent display of ruthless schadenfreude, Makhachev took to his Instagram Stories and reposted a highlight video of Poirier's knockout victory against McGregor. The lightweight kingpin attached the following statement to it:

"I love watching this"