[10][11] Makhachev's father grew tomatoes and worked as a driver; his mother was a housewife and ran a small cafe.

He trained in freestyle wrestling for a year but switched to mixed martial arts under Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov after learning that Khabib was already a professional.

[16] He was unable to compete at the 2014 world championships due to the discovery of a heart condition that required treatment.

[18] Makhachev made his M-1 Global debut against Tengiz Khuchua on 12 February 2011 and won the fight via KO in the first round.

[20] Makhachev faced then-undefeated Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt[21] Rander Junio on 21 August 2013 at M-1 Challenge 41.

[23] On 7 September 2014, in his final bout for M-1 Global before signing with the UFC, Makhachev defeated Ivica Truscek via submission in the third round.

[29] After the weigh-ins, the UFC announced that the bout was cancelled after Makhachev failed an out-of-competition drug screening, testing positive for the banned anti-ischemic meldonium.

[30] USADA lifted Makhachev's suspension after a hearing on 2 July 2016 determined that the drug was prescribed in November 2015 to recover from a medical procedure to his heart.

[37] However, Makhachev pulled out of the fight in the beginning of August citing a religious reason, and he was replaced by Mads Burnell.

[43] However, it was reported on 11 November 2018 Makhachev was pulled out from the event due to undisclosed reason and he was replaced by Alexander Hernandez.

[51] However, Makhachev was removed from the card due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic and he was replaced by Omar Morales.

[54] The pairing was left intact and rescheduled for 14 November 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos.

[62] However, dos Anjos was forced to pulled from the event due to injury,[63] and he was replaced by Dan Hooker.

[66] However, on 12 February 2022 it was reported that Dariush withdrew from the event due to an ankle injury[67] and he was replaced by Bobby Green.

[69] After winning the fight, he also express his intentions to move up to welterweight and start his quest to become a two-division champion.

[71] Makhachev won the bout and the title in the second round via arm-triangle choke after knocking down Oliveira with a punch.

[78][79] Makhachev was scheduled to make his second title defense in a rematch against Charles Oliveira on 21 October 2023, at UFC 294.

[88] Makhachev was originally slated to defend the belt in a rematch against Arman Tsarukyan, but one day before the event, a back injury suffered by Tsarukyan forced him to withdraw from the bout; Moicano was originally scheduled to face Beneil Dariush at the event.