Islam Makhachev (22-1) joined the UFC back in 2014, picking up his sole loss a year later. 

Since then, a ten-fight win streak has propelled him up the rankings, while former UFC Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov coaches and corners Makhachev for all of his bouts. It’s hard to do much better, and it’s easy to see why everyone is finally starting to pay attention to the lightweight contender.

Here’s a rundown with a trio of the best Islam Makhachev cards to collect, from his 2019 RC, to a couple of premium releases from 2022. 

The Best Islam Makhachev Cards

Which trio of Islam Makhachev cards would we pick above all others? Let’s get started with the list. 

3. 2022 Panini Prizm UFC Islam Makhachev #125 (eBay)

2022 Panini Prizm UFC has proven to be one of the more popular sets released in recent years, thanks to the strength of the brand and a premium look and feel to the cards. 

Islam Makhachev is one of the stars of the set in terms of current resale values, which goes to show how confident most collectors are in his chances of winning the lightweight championship. 

It features a simple action shot with both of his hands raised, after yet another victory. 

• Parallels: Green, Hyper, Ice, Pink Ice, Ruby Wave, Silver, White Sparkle, Red #/299, Blue #/199, Purple #/149, Orange #/99, Teal #/49, Pink Pulsar #/42, Green Pulsar #/25, Mojo #/25, Gold #/10, Lucky Envelopes #/8, Octagon #/8, Blue Shimmer FOTL #/7, Gold Shimmer FOTL #/5, Black 1/1, Black Shimmer FOTL 1/1

Check prices of 2022 Panini Prizm UFC Islam Makhachev card on eBay

2. 2022 Panini Prizm UFC Islam Makhachev #40 (eBay)

If you’re looking for the best Islam Makhachev autographed card, this has to be the one to chase. 

Sure, it’s a stickered auto, and the fighter doesn’t make great use of the space set out for the signature. Regardless, the rare Prizm parallels are some of the most valuable Makhachev cards you’re likely to find on the open market. 

• Parallels: Green, Silver, Red #/99, Blue #/49, Green Pulsar #/25, Mojo #/25, Gold #/10, Black 1/1, White Sparkle 1/1

Check prices of 2022 Panini Prizm UFC Islam Makhachev auto card on eBay

1. 2019 Topps UFC Chrome Islam Makhachev RC #92 (eBay)

2019 Topps UFC Chrome was the third anniversary of the sets initial MMA release, and it includes a sole Islam Makhachev rookie card. He’d been in the organization for a while at that point, but there’s an RC logo in the top right corner.

It’s found in the base collection, so there’s a ton of colored Refractor parallels, although there’s no rookie autograph. 

Unless I’m mistaken, they’ve opted for an action shot from Makhachev’s sole first-round KO loss to Adriano Martins. It’s a strange image to choose, especially as the collection was released midway through his current W streak.  

• Parallels: Base Ref (1:3), X-Fractor (1:24), Sepia (4 per Blaster), Diamond Hot Box, Green #/99, Blue Wave #/75, Gold #/50, Orange #/25, Black #/10, Red #/5, SuperFractor 1/1, Printing Plates 1/1

Check prices of 2019 Topps UFC Chrome Islam Makhachev RC on eBay

Islam Makhachev Cards: Buyers Guide 

Here are our thoughts on the current state of the market for the best Islam Makhachev cards. 

Ungraded copies of the base 2022 auto are cheaper than you might have expected. We think they’re the best mid-range option overall. 

The 2022 cards are selling for impressive sums, especially when looking at the rarest parallels. However, they’re not rookie cards, so we’d probably opt for the 2019 release instead. 

The Best Islam Makhachev Cards: Final Thoughts

Makhachev is another great contender for UFC gold, and he is expected to have his next fight in October 2022. Will it be for the belt?  

“He’s the best fighter in the world at that weight class,” former champion Daniel Cormier said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “His abilities are just second to none.”

It’s worth mentioning that Cormier is an AKA teammate, but it’s a view shared by many fans and collectors. 

It’s the reason why the rarest Makhachev cards sell for a premium. They’re expected to increase in value if he continues to rack up the wins.