iShowSpeed unexpectedly brought MMA into his latest livestream after calling out his brother Jamal for failing push-ups on Sunday.
The popular streamer joked that Jamal needed discipline and suggested sending him to spend “two or three years in Dagestan”, a region strongly linked with elite fighters.
Dagestan’s reputation comes from producing champions like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev through a culture built on hard work.
Fighters such as Umar Nurmagomedov and Muhammad Mokaev have reinforced that image, with training seen as a lifelong commitment rather than a short-term career.
And iShowSpeed’s joke quickly escalated beyond entertainment as he took action during the stream.
iShowSpeed texts Islam Makhachev as UFC star responds publicly
iShowSpeed sent Makhachev a direct message on Instagram about sending Jamal to Dagestan.
No reply appeared during the livestream, leaving viewers unsure whether the message had been seen.
However, Makhachev later responded under an Instagram post discussing the situation, leaving three eyes emojis in the comments.
That brief reaction was enough to fuel the moment, linking a viral internet clip with one of MMA’s most dominant champions.
The ‘2-3 years in Dagestan’ meme that continues to grow
The situation also highlighted a long-running MMA joke about spending “2-3 years in Dagestan” to become tougher.
The phrase reflects how the region’s demanding training environment is viewed as transformative within fighting circles.
Makhachev was responsible for pushing the meme into mainstream attention, turning it into a recognisable part of MMA culture.
Last month, he revealed that boxing star Anthony Joshua even asked permission to create T-shirts using the phrase, which he approved.
He also invited Joshua to train in Dagestan, even though the former heavyweight champion is unlikely to pursue wrestling or transition into MMA.
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