Islam Makhachev’s 16-fight UFC streak ties him for third all-time after Usman’s mark

Islam Makhachev’s 16-fight UFC winning streak remains one of the most feared marks in the sport’s history: and it just got fresh attention after Kamaru Usman’s latest run was quantified ahead of UFC Fight Night 281 on Saturday.

The card takes place at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, OK., live on Paramount+. The main event sees Dricus Du Plessis face Kamaru Usman at middleweight, but the pre-fight facts sheet also dredged up Makhachev’s old record.

What happened?

Kamaru Usman’s 15-fight UFC winning streak at welterweight ended at UFC 278 in October 2023. That streak now sits tied for fifth-most in welterweight history with Matt Hughes and Matt Brown. Usman’s overall UFC mark of 15-0 to start his career remains one of only two 15-fight unbeaten starts in UFC annals: Anderson Silva also did it.

Usman’s takedown defense numbers remain absurd: he’s stopped 97.3 percent of all opponent takedown attempts in welterweight bouts. That stat still towers over every other welterweight in UFC history.

Why it matters for Islam Makhachev

Makhachev’s 16-fight UFC streak ended at UFC 294 in October 2023. That streak sits third all-time behind Anderson Silva’s 16 and Israel Adesanya’s 12 at middleweight. Makhachev’s run included a lightweight title defense against Charles Oliveira in October 2022 and a welterweight title defense against Dustin Poirier in February 2023.

The resurfacing of Usman’s 15-fight streak is a reminder of how elite Makhachev’s 16-fight run was. It also shows how quickly elite streaks get compared across divisions when new data drops.

What comes next?

Dricus Du Plessis tries to rebound from his first middleweight loss to Khamzat Chimaev in August 2025. He faces Usman in the main event on Saturday night. Makhachev remains a free agent after UFC 294 and has not fought since.

Usman’s return to middleweight marks his second attempt at 185 pounds. His first, at UFC 265 in August 2021, ended in a split decision loss to Leon Edwards. This time he’s hunting two-division glory.

How the streaks stack up

Usman’s 15-fight welterweight streak is now tied for fifth in that division. Makhachev’s 16-fight run across two weight classes is third all-time in UFC history. Silva still holds the top spot with 16 straight wins.

The numbers don’t just sit in a database. They get pulled out every time a new contender posts a long win streak. Makhachev’s streak still looms large: and Usman’s latest run is the closest anyone’s gotten to touching it in years.