5 reasons Islam Makhachev could be Fighter of the Year in 2023

Islam Makhachev has captured the imagination of fight fans across the globe. Prior to his title fight with Charles Oliveira, many were confident that the Dagestani grappling phenom would be easily dispatched. His record lacked enough top-level fighters to justify any confidence in his ability to dethrone 'do Bronx'.

Many believed that the Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist would defeat Khabib Nurmagomedov's compatriot and coax him out of retirement. Instead, Islam Makhachev claimed his opponent's crown with a dominant effort. He secured takedowns and scored a knockdown before winning via second-round submission.

Next year, he'll face reigning featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284. It will be Islam Makhachev's first fight in 2023 and the start of a run that could potentially see him become 2023's Fighter of the Year. Here are five reasons why.

#5. Islam Makhachev may very well defeat Alexander Volkanovski

UFC 284 will feature a championship vs. championship bout between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski. Whoever wins the matchup will earn a significant amount of bragging rights, and there's good reason to believe that Dagestani wrestling will prevail next February.

Makhachev promises to make Volkanovski panic 👀 https://t.co/c4CaG5kQxm

Unless another champion decides to challenge the ruling champion in the division above them, there will be no other fighter with the chance to defeat an active titleholder. Defeating a champion of Alexander Volkanovski's caliber will count as an enormous achievement given how unbeatable the Australian great has looked.

If Islam Makhachev starts off 2023 by beating 'The Great' in convincing fashion, he'll be well on his way to becoming Fighter of the Year.

#4. Islam Makhachev could become the P4P king of the UFC

The P4P fighter of the UFC is often regarded as the very best mixed martial artist in the world. Usually, after a P4P king loses, a new fighter dethrones them in the promotion's official rankings. This happened after Kamaru Usman tasted defeat against Leon Edwards at UFC 278.

Makhachev. Volkanovski. Lightweight Title. P4P Status. Perth. February. OFFICIAL 🤩

#UFC284 https://t.co/AWag8K4PSE

Alexander Volkanovski supplanted him as the reigning top fighter in the promotion. However, rarely does a P4P king lose their crown to the person who defeated them. It is a distinct possibility if Khabib Nurmagomedov's protege defeats 'The Great' in February.

With Khabib Nurmagomedov's promotional weight in his corner, the UFC could easily be convinced to crown his compatriot as the new P4P king. This is especially true if the Dagestani phenom finishes the 145 lbs champion.

#3. The strength of his contenders

Islam Makhachev currently rules over the lightweight division. It's arguably the most stacked division in the UFC, with high-level fighters populating its top ten rankings. Right now, the top five consists a range of extremely accomplished MMA fighters.

Conor McGregor is no longer featured in the UFC's official lightweight rankings.

In latest update, McGregor has dropped out of the top 15, though he is in pool of athletes eligible to be ranked by the panel.

With McGregor out, Grant Dawson (@dawsongrant20y1) is in at No. 14. https://t.co/C69mG4HB6i

Charles Oliveira, who he has already beaten, is a former UFC lightweight champion. Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje are former UFC interim lightweight champions. While Beneil Dariush isn't a former world champion, he's on an eight-fight win streak.

Lastly, Michael Chandler is a three-time Bellator lightweight champion. If Khabib Nurmagomedov's compatriot defeats Alexander Volkanovski and two or one of these contenders, it'll be difficult to deny him at the end of next year. No one else will have had the strength of his schedule.

#2. Islam Makhachev's dominance

With the exception of one fight where Islam Makhachev was merely caught during an exchange, the Dagestani phenom has looked unstoppable in the cage. No one has had an answer to the questions he raises inside the octagon other than a flash knockout.

If he continues to dispatch every foe in the same dominant fashion that he beat the likes of Charles Oliveira, Dan Hooker and Bobby Green, he'll be a force of nature. Being dominant over one's opponents should be enough to differentiate them from their peers. However, in the Dgaestani phenom's case, it isn't just dominance.

Absolute dominance by @MAKHACHEVMMA 😤 #UFCVegas49 https://t.co/IX9IwrPWBt

The reigning lightweight kingpin is a finisher. While some decry his fighting style as boring, it is anything but. The AKA standout is a grappler with violent intentions. He outgrapples his foes en route to either a brutal TKO or a slick submission. His last five wins were all finishes.

If he finishes every foe next year in dominant fashion, it will be difficult to overlook him for Fighter of the Year.

#1. He could become a PPV attraction

Ever since Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from MMA, there's been a surge of greater interest in fighters from the Caucasus region. It's part of the reason why Khamzat Chimaev has garnered so much attention from the MMA world. However, no fighter bears as much of a similarity to 'The Eagle' as Islam Makhachev.

Islam Makhachev’s octagon interview has more views than any of Charles Oliveira’s octagon interviews. It’s clear who the bigger star is. https://t.co/g3HDh2CyJm

The Dagestani phenom trains at the American Kickboxing Academy just like Nurmagomedov did. Furthermore, the two were both students of 'The Eagle's' father and have similar fighting styles. Due to the seemingly unstoppable nature of Dagestani wrestling, there's immense interest in Islam Makhachev.

Defeating Charles Oliveira bolstered his starpower. Defeating Alexander Volkanovsky will skyrocket the AKA standout into a different level of stardom. Stars are often considered over lesser-known fighters. Thus, a star with strong performances will always be considered over others.