Islam Makhachev gives two guys the Dagestani makeover

Islam Makhachev, the UFC welterweight champion, recently demonstrated the strict grooming standards of his Dagestan-based training camp by giving two young men a stylistic overhaul. The 28-1 fighter removed their jewelry, then used a trimmer to cut their curly hair into the close-cropped style mandatory within Khabib Nurmagomedov's gym—a discipline established by the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov when he founded the team in the mountains of Dagestan. Makhachev himself was once ejected from the gym for violating this hair rule.

Makhachev shared footage of the impromptu barber session on Instagram Stories, captioning one post: "They didn't have to go to Dagestan. Dagestan came for them." Khabib also posted a video of his protégé at work, endorsing the team's traditional approach to appearance. The renewed focus on camp culture comes as Makhachev prepares for his first welterweight title defense against Ian Garry (17-1) at UFC 330 on August 15 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.