The crowd's reaction during Islam Makhachev's recent Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight Championship title bout - versus Dustin Poirier - was a good indicator of how far the Russian has to go to win over the public.
Every punch Poirier landed led to deafening cheers, while an eerie silence would fall over the arena every time Makhachev pinned the American in a potentially match-ending hold. As soon as Poirier wriggled free, the crowd would raucously celebrate.
Yes, Poirier was benefitting from partisan home support as an American, with the match taking place in New Jersey. To that extent, the reaction from those on the terraces shouldn’t be a surprise. However, universal champions tend to receive respect wherever they fight owing to their formidable achievements.
Makhachev is arguably the biggest international name on the UFC roster, but the lightweight champion star doesn’t benefit from the same amount of support as, say, Conor McGregor or Francis Ngannou.
This is why there wasn't an outpouring of emotion toward the Dagestan-born fighter when he finally pinned Poirier in a D'arce choke during the fifth round. The onlookers in the Newark stadium knew the game was up: it had been one too many escapes for an exhausted Poirier, as a weary tap on Makhachev’s hip signalled the end.
Despite this fight almost going the distance, there was a sense of the inevitable throughout the contest. Indeed, at some point, you felt that Makhachev’s prying would unlock Poirier’s defences. This is, after all, what Makhachev has done throughout his entire career. It is also why the public has yet to take to the 32-year-old, as his methodical style doesn’t move the needle.
Makhachev isn’t the first UFC fighter who has encountered criticism over a ‘boring’ style. This label is typically applied to fighters whose techniques were cultivated in a wrestling background.
In Makhachev’s case, the Russian grew up competing in Sambo, a martial art that combines wrestling and judo. With such a strong emphasis on grappling, Makhachev had a way of beating his opponents without brute force but rather with patience and persistence when he took up Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
This is why the UFC star’s professional MMA record read 26 wins and only 5 by way of knockout (KO), while 12 have been by submission and 9 by decision. These numbers indicate that it has been death by a thousand cuts for opponents of Makhachev. Equally, fans will argue that this deliberate style has been torturous to watch.
While it’s important to stress that not every UFC fan feels this way, the reality is that the stars of the company are normally the fighters who don’t rely on one single method for victory.
In short, it is the unpredictability that MMA devotees love during explosive exchanges in the steel cage.
The prevailing mood towards Makhachev, however, doesn’t mean that the 32-year-old is a boring fighter. The irrefutable truth is that greats aren't boring, just clinical in their approach.
Switching codes briefly, Floyd Mayweather is a good example of this phenomenon where the greatest fighting technicians are seen to be involved in matches that lack excitement.
Mayweather built his legacy on avoiding being hit while in the ring. It was such an effective strategy that the American established a 50-0 record and remains unbeaten today.
Of course, such a conservative strategy also saw Mayweather labelled as boring, but the reality is that he was a master of his craft - his opponents simply couldn’t lay a finger on him.
Makhachev is in the same boat, as he tries to establish dominance on the mat: everything the Russian does in the Octagon is designed to take the contest to the floor. It might disrupt the ebb and flow of a contest and spoil it for others, but what we’re seeing is a brutal game of chess. Makhachev is consistently setting traps for his opponents to fall into and, when they do, it's checkmate and goodnight.
This game plan was evident against Poirier just before Makhachev secured the win in their gruelling title fight at UFC 302. With Poirier standing over Makhachev while the Russian held his foot in a bent-over position late in the fifth round, the American was led to believe that he was in the ascendency and had control.
Poirier then tried to capitalise on what he felt was a position of power by throwing a punch. The problem was Makhachev was patiently waiting for him to.
In a split second, the 32-year-old had taken advantage of Poirier's imbalance by flipping him onto the mat. It was the beginning of the end for Poirier, who found himself in a vice-like D'Arce choke - the fight would only last a few more seconds before he tapped out.
Being able to successfully execute plans such as the one against Poirier while in the intense environment of the Octagon is far from easy. It takes extraordinary discipline to stick to any pre-fight blueprint like Poirier did in Newark, especially when an opponent begins to land punches early on.
During times like these, Mike Tyson’s famous quote: ‘Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth’ is a reminder of how quickly a fighter’s strategy can be scuppered.
The temptation is to fight fire with fire. Makhachev knows that this will give his opponents the upper hand which is why he never allows himself to be drawn into trading punches, which is not one of his strengths.
There is something to be said for Makhachev remaining steadfast in his belief of what he does well when faced with a barrage of shots. Most other fighters in history have veered from their intended plan and paid the price. Essentially, while thrilling counterattacks make for better viewing, they don’t necessarily guarantee a fighter will leave a legacy when they retire.
Unquestionably, self-control has been key to Makhachev’s streak of wins, which extends back to 2016. The 32-year-old is now only two wins behind Anderson Silva’s record of 16 consecutive victories in the Octagon.
It is a remarkable record when you consider that Makhachev was knocked out by Adriano Martins in the first round of his second-ever match in the Octagon during UFC 192 in Texas in 2015.
They say that athletes learn more from defeat than they do from victory. Makhachev’s astonishing trajectory since that shock loss in the Lone Star State is undeniable proof of this.
It also unequivocally proves that Makhachev thinks very carefully about how to not only win, but how to avoid the same mistakes again. It is a theme that is likely to carry on for the remainder of Makhachev’s career as he looks to surpass Silva's record of consecutive wins.
After beating Poirier, Makhachev’s next opponent has yet to be confirmed. There are, however, three likely options for another fight in 2024. The first involves a rematch with Arman Tsarukyan and the second a showdown with BMF champion Max Holloway. Failing that, Makhachev can wait for the winner of Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad’s welterweight title fight at UFC 304.
Given that Makhachev has gone almost a decade without being beaten, the Russian will likely go into any match with either of these three men as the favourite.
You can bet on Makhachev’s next fight by claiming one of these sign-up offers from online bookies such as Paddy Power and Betfred, who are offering up to £50 in free bets to be used on the Lightweight Champion’s next fight.
Makhachev might need to retire before his accomplishments are fully appreciated, which could eventually change the narrative around his contentious style. This often happens with fighters whose legends grow only after they are no longer active. History tends to view the achievements of fighters more kindly than the present does.
At least, for now, the world only sees a man grinding his opponent down, but in ten years, they might look back on the career of a fighter who was the greatest to ever step foot in the Octagon.
Only time will tell whether this happens or not. Irrespective of what the lasting opinion ends up being, the fact is that Makhachev doesn’t take any notice of the outside noise.
The Russian is far too determined to leave an unmatched legacy to pander to any dissenting voices by throwing caution to the wind in the Octagon.
Indeed, when you make it to the top of the UFC after growing up in Burshi, a remote village in Dagestan, you soon learn that tunnel vision is essential for success. In Makhachev's eyes, if being unpopular means being unbeatable, then he is achieving his dreams.
Perhaps the more fitting question is whether anyone has the tools to break open Makhachev's stranglehold on the lightweight division? On current evidence, the answer is no.