TLDR
- Islam Makhachev awarded Honored Master of Sport of Russia title by Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev on July 2, 2026
- Recognition honors his Combat SAMBO World Championship and promotion of the martial art as UFC champion in two weight divisions
- Makhachev named SAMBO Ambassador to the World in February 2026 during meeting with FIAS President Vasily Shestakov
- UFC champion credits SAMBO as his primary discipline and ranks at top of pound-for-pound fighter rankings
- Makhachev groups himself with Fedor Emelianenko and Khabib Nurmagomedov as SAMBO representatives in MMA
Sources: sambo.sport
UFC champion Islam Makhachev has been awarded the honorary title of “Honored Master of Sport of Russia” for his achievements in SAMBO. Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev signed the order granting Makhachev the prestigious recognition on July 2, 2026.
The award recognizes Makhachev’s success as a Combat SAMBO World Champion and his role in promoting the martial art worldwide. As a UFC champion in two weight divisions, Makhachev currently ranks at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings of the world’s best fighters.
“Islam is an outstanding athlete, a Combat SAMBO World Champion, and he has made an unprecedented contribution to popularizing our beloved martial art on the international stage,” said Vasily Shestakov, President of the International SAMBO Federation (FIAS).
Islam Makhachev has been awarded
one of the most prestigious sports awards and has been named a Russian Master of Sports😤🏆Source:@Home_of_Fight pic.twitter.com/gvlsq0aYW2
— Jack Johnson (@MMANEWS300) July 4, 2026
From Combat SAMBO to UFC Dominance
Makhachev has consistently credited SAMBO as his primary martial arts discipline throughout his UFC career. In interviews with millions of international viewers, he has spoken about how Combat SAMBO shaped his fighting style and success.
The UFC champion became a SAMBO Ambassador to the World earlier this year. The International SAMBO Federation announced the appointment during a February 18 meeting between Makhachev and FIAS President Vasily Shestakov at the International SAMBO Center.
At that meeting, Makhachev said he had been representing SAMBO internationally long before receiving an official title. “I already told Vasily Borisovich that I was unofficially a SAMBO ambassador to the world anyway,” Makhachev said.
Elite Group of SAMBO Representatives
Makhachev named himself alongside legendary fighters Fedor Emelianenko and Khabib Nurmagomedov as the faces of SAMBO in mixed martial arts. “People know me, Fedor, and Khabib as SAMBO representatives,” he said in February.
The UFC champion also made strong claims about SAMBO fighters’ place in MMA. “I think anyone who understands MMA will agree that the best fighters are SAMBO fighters,” Makhachev stated during his meeting with the FIAS president.
SAMBO, which stands for “self-defense without weapons” in Russian, is a martial art and combat sport developed in the Soviet Union. Combat SAMBO includes striking techniques and is particularly well-suited for mixed martial arts competition.
The Honored Master of Sport of Russia is one of the highest athletic distinctions the country awards. Athletes must demonstrate exceptional achievements at the world championship or Olympic level to receive this honor.
Makhachev’s dual UFC championships came in different weight classes, showcasing his versatility as a fighter. His pound-for-pound ranking position means experts consider him one of the best fighters in the world regardless of weight class.
Shestakov praised how Makhachev demonstrates SAMBO’s effectiveness in the UFC cage. “He consistently and proudly speaks of Combat SAMBO as his home discipline, demonstrating in the cage just how powerful and effective our sport truly is,” the FIAS president said.
The award comes as Cambodia officially established its own Sambo Federation on July 1, 2026. The German Sambo Open 2026 also took place in Karlsruhe on July 2, the same day Makhachev received his honor.
