Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev share a common UFC opponent. UFC lightweight champion Makhachev's most recent title defense came in a fifth-round submission of Dustin Poirier at UFC 302. Nurmagomedov also holds a victory over Poirier,

The Dagestanis strive to become the first teammates to win a belt in the co-main event and retain a belt in the main event Saturday night at Intuit Dome.

Islam Makhachev will never have that. He already has that one loss to Adriano Martins in his second UFC fight back in 2015. But where he could pull ahead of Khabib Nurmagomedov is in longevity and overall career ambition.

UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili went back to work a little quicker than anybody anticipated, returning from a title win in September to a title defense against Umar Nurmagomedov this Saturday at UFC 311 - and Umar's cousin Khabib believes he knows why.

At UFC 310, the Stockton brawler and the Russian’s team launched water bottles at one another. After the Dagestani gave his version of events, Diaz hit the roof, comparing Makhachev to an ‘Ewok’ from Star Wars, and claiming he lied about what transpired that day.

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev once hoped he could settle one of Khabib Nurmagomedov ’s rivalries. Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson (25-11 MMA, 15-9 UFC) saw five scheduled bouts scrapped, and the pair never ended up settling their beef that spanned several years.

Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov take center stage at UFC 311. They're also two of the main players in MMA's most successful team.

Umar Nurmagomedov is on the verge of bringing a second UFC title to the Nurmagomedov family. If Islam Makhachev's prediction is correct, a third Nurmagomedov could hold UFC gold soon. Makhachev, the UFC lightweight champion,