Islam Makhachev enrols in a master's degree at Plekhanov University in Dubai
The UFC welterweight champion, on a record 17-fight winning streak, is also eyeing a second title defence before Ramadan.
Islam Makhachev has gone back to university. Plekhanov Russian University of Economics announced on its website that the UFC welterweight champion has enrolled as a master's student at its Dubai campus.
"Plekhanov University proudly welcomes UFC champion Islam Makhachev to its community as a master's student," the university said. "Makhachev reminds us that a person's strength is measured not by what they've already achieved, but by whether they're ready to become a student again."
Makhachev, 29-1, beat Ian Machado Garry in August in his first defence of the welterweight title, extending his winning streak to a UFC-record 17 fights.
He is targeting a second defence before Ramadan. Carlos Prates has been named as a leading candidate, though the UFC has not announced the fight. Michael Morales, ranked No 3, called Makhachev out on Sunday and suggested Makhachev would prefer Prates because he is "an easy fighter".
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