Islam Makhachev Jokes With Demetrious Johnson About Naming His 1,000 Sheep
Islam Makhachev delivered a blunt answer when Demetrious Johnson asked whether the UFC welterweight champion bothers naming the animals on his farm. The light exchange, drawn from a recent interview on Johnson’s platform, offered a rare glimpse of the Dagestani star’s dry humor just days before his first title defense at 170 pounds.
Makhachev (28-1) captured the welterweight championship with a unanimous decision over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in November 2025. He remains the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC and enters UFC 330 on a 16-fight winning streak. He will face Ian Machado Garry on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
Johnson, the retired flyweight great who has built a steady presence through interviews and training content, turned the conversation toward the farm Makhachev maintains in Dagestan. “Here’s a question I ask other people who run farms,” Johnson began. “Do you name the animals?”
He followed up with examples, asking if the horses received names like Shire or Whistle and whether any of the livestock carried personal labels. Makhachev kept his response short. “Just horses,” he said. When pressed further he added the scale of the operation. “I have one thousand round, one thousand sheep. What, what name I can give them?”
Johnson’s reaction was immediate surprise. “You, you have one thousand sheep?” Makhachev confirmed it with a smile that quickly turned into shared laughter. The host then asked whether one animal stood out. “Do you have a favorite sheep that, like, you always, you know, look after?”
Makhachev did not pause. “No, favorite sheep is when they come, we make barbecue. It’s the favorite one.”
The clip has circulated widely among MMA fans on the same day as other pre-fight coverage for UFC 330. Makhachev’s farm has been a known part of his public image for years, with earlier videos showing the property’s sheep, horses and open spaces used for gatherings. The exchange fits the straightforward style he often shows outside formal media sessions.
Johnson has spent time around Makhachev and the Dagestani training group before, including past sessions at the UFC Apex and previous long-form conversations. Their easy rapport shows in the back-and-forth, which stayed far from fight strategy or predictions about Garry.
The No. 1 contender at welterweight arrives with recent wins over Belal Muhammad and Carlos Prates. Makhachev has built his recent success on control and grappling, yet the farm comments provided a brief break from the technical talk that usually surrounds title weeks.
UFC 330 marks Makhachev’s first defense of the welterweight belt. A win would stretch his consecutive victories to 17 and further solidify his standing as the division’s clear leader. The humorous farm discussion arrives as a small reminder that the champion keeps a life outside the gym between camps.