He’s the UFC’s most dominant lightweight (after Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement), a former champion on a fifteen-fight win streak, and a man chasing history as he prepares to challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight title at UFC 322 on November 15. Yet, beyond his calm dominance inside the cage, Islam Makhachev has found himself at the center of an unexpected internet storm.

Fans have long admired his stoicism, but a few awkward on-camera moments sparked a viral theory, and soon, memes were everywhere. But how did this narrative start? Was it a misunderstanding or a peek into something deeper?

How Did the Islam Makhachev Autism Meme Start? His Awkward Reactions Explained

It began with one expression, one moment of pure, unfiltered confusion. During UFC 272, as Colby Covi

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