Anatomy of a Fighter
At a glance
- Documentary web series directed by Will Harris
- Has followed Khabib Nurmagomedov, Kamaru Usman, Islam Makhachev and Merab Dvalishvili
- Channel created in August 2017, about 860,000 subscribers as of September 2026
Overview
Anatomy of a Fighter is a documentary web series directed by Will Harris. The YouTube channel was created in August 2017 and had about 860,000 subscribers as of September 2026. It is independent.
The series has followed Khabib Nurmagomedov, Kamaru Usman, Islam Makhachev and Merab Dvalishvili, with access to training camps, locker rooms and corners during fights.
What you'll find
The main format is a behind the scenes documentary built around one big fight. For UFC 330 the channel released "Anatomy of UFC 330" on Islam Makhachev versus Ian Machado Garry, featuring Hasbulla, along with clips: Khabib Nurmagomedov's instructions to Makhachev before round five, Abubakar Nurmagomedov's reaction while watching, and the before and after of the night.
The channel also goes beyond the UFC. In September 2026 it covered Super RIZIN.5 in Japan, with the build-up for Razhabali Shaidulloev and AJ McKee, a film on their fight and a video on why fighting in Japan is different, including comments from Brian Ortega. It then followed the AIGA wrestling championships in Istanbul with Abubakar Nurmagomedov, Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir. A separate clip shows AJ McKee's respect for Shaidulloev after the fight.
Why follow
You see what broadcast cameras don't show: the talk in the corner, the tension before the walkout, a team's reaction after a win or a loss. The series has direct access to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev's team, all the way into the corner.
The films are edited as documentaries, with a story that runs over several days from camp to fight night. That structure also makes them easy to watch with people who don't follow MMA closely, since each film sets up who the fighters are before the fight begins.
MMA Official's take
Anatomy of a Fighter is for fans who want to experience a major fight from the inside and for anyone interested in teams and the mental side of preparation. The main videos are long; the short clips give you a one-minute preview. Releases follow the calendar of the big fights the series covers, with several videos per project.
Start with "Anatomy of UFC 330" on Islam Makhachev, then watch the Super RIZIN.5 film to see how the series handles a Japanese promotion.