UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev’s rumored move to the welterweight division has an enormous obstacle in its way.
Islam Makhachev hasn’t fought since defending the UFC lightweight belt against Renato Moicano at UFC 311 earlier this yr. After defeating Moicano, Makhachev hinted at an upcoming move to welterweight, despite his teammate Belal Muhammad holding the highest spot within the division.
Makhachev and Muhammad have each expressed disinterest in facing one another in a possible champion vs. champion super fight. Under the tutelage of UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, each Makhachev and Muhammad have benefited from their time training together, and Nurmagomedov is firmly against a possible fight booking.
As Makhachev and his team ponder a possible showdown with Ilia Topuria for his UFC lightweight championship, the lightweight king casts a shadow over the upcoming UFC 315 major event. Muhammad will defend the welterweight belt against Jack Della Maddalena, and it’s been proposed that the winner could face Makhachev next.
Belal Muhammad doubles down on dismissing Islam Makhachev fight, complicating P4P king’s plans
But Muhammad has proposed a possible move as much as middleweight, vacating his welterweight title, to avoid a showdown with Makhachev and clear the best way for his friend and teammate. Amidst the uncertainty of Makhachev’s next fight, the Muhammad fight talks have resurfaced, prompting a response from the welterweight titleholder.
During a recent interview with Submission Radio, Muhammad was asked about potentially putting his friendship with Makhachev aside to fulfill within the Octagon.
“No, I wouldn’t fight him,” Muhammad assured. “That point, they’ve done a lot for me, they’ve helped me a lot that it wouldn’t be value it to fight those guys. There’s an excessive amount of respect and loyalty on my end…I feel individuals are just wondering and hoping for him to fight, in search of any excuses for him, right? There are guys in that division who make sense. Justin Gaethje is sensible…
“Paddy Pimblett got here off an enormous finish, he has an enormous name…Charles Oliveira is waiting for a rematch…there’s plenty of fellows. I feel Ilia [Topuria] must fight any person before he gets that title shot, since it’s not likely value it for Islam to fight one other [featherweight] because irrespective of what they do, individuals are going to hate on Islam.”
Makhachev has several potential lightweight title challengers waiting within the wings, including rematches with Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan, together with a showdown with Paddy Pimblett. But Makhachev has repeatedly expressed the problem of cutting right down to 155 lbs, opening up the door to a welterweight weight class change.
Of note: Makhachev has never missed weight in his UFC profession.
Islam Makhachev labeled ‘an absolute disaster’ for top UFC welterweights
Within the meantime, Makhachev’s potential addition to the welterweight division prompted a top contender to share a surprising take. Ian Machado Garry, who faces Carlos Prates this weekend at UFC Kansas City, called Makhachev ‘an absolute disaster’ for the highest welterweights and admitted he’d be okay with Makhachev skipping the road for a direct title shot.
First things first for Muhammad as he prepares to face Maddalena at UFC 315 in his first welterweight title defense. He won the belt by defeating Leon Edwards at UFC 304 last July.
Makhachev’s next fight is one in every of the most important mysteries of MMA, as of this writing, as summer quickly approaches. We could learn more in the approaching weeks about what the matchmakers will do with Makhachev and lots of other top stars.
