After announcing his move to welterweight and relinquishing the lightweight title, Islam Makhachev is now dealing with some struggles as he makes the move up to 170 pounds.
Although Makhachev has never missed weight throughout his UFC career, the cut-down to the lightweight title fight limit of 155 pounds was one that proved challenging. Despite that, as the pound-for-pound kingpin revealed in an interview with MMAJunkie‘s Mike Bohn, the transition to welterweight hasn’t been easy.
“I’m trying to get bigger — but it’s not easy, man,” Makhachev said in the interview posted June 25. “All my life I’ve been cutting weight. Now that I want to bulk up, my weight just stays the same. I’m lifting more and following a strength program. So far, I’ve only gained maybe 2 kilograms.
“It’s tough, but I don’t want to just gain weight by eating junk and not training. I want to add real muscle — clean muscle through proper lifting and training,” he said.
Makhachev explained that come fight week, his newfound “problem” will actually be a huge benefit. During his cut-down to 155, his whole team would typically avoid eating around him because they didn’t want to torture him.
Now, he said, he’ll be right there alongside his teammates enjoying himself.
Islam Makhachev Calls for Jack Della Maddalena Fight at Madison Square Garden
While Makhachev has already vacated the lightweight title in anticipation of a move up to 170, so far there’s been no word yet on when he and Jack Della Maddalena will compete for the welterweight belt.
Back in early May, Della Maddalena threw out the possibility of the two throwing down in Australia, saying that he’d love to avenge Alexander Volkanovski’s 2023 loss to Makhachev in Perth.
During his interview with MMAJunkie, Makhachev shot down the idea, revealing that he’s already asked Dana White about the possibility of fighting at Madison Square Garden.
“I asked Dana if we have an opportunity to fight in Madison Square Garden,” he said.
“It would be an honor for me to fight in the biggest arena for MMA and boxing. Legendary arena. They’re not fighting for the money or for the victory, they’re fighting there for the legacy, and I also want to fight there for my legacy, to be a double champion in Madison Square Garden,” he said.
So far, the UFC hasn’t formally announced an event in New York, however, the expectation is that the promotion will visit MSG before the end of the year.
Ilia Topuria Warns Islam Makhachev About a Move Back Down to 155 If He Comes Up Short Against JDM
Leading up to his fight with Charles Oliveira this weekend on the UFC’s International Fight Week card, Ilia Topuria revealed that he isn’t ruling out an eventual move to welterweight.
Although he doesn’t blame Makhachev for making the move up in weight, Topuria explained that if both he and Makhachev emerge victorious from their upcoming fights, we could see the pair compete in a clash of champions.
If Makhachev winds up losing to Jack Della Maddalena, however, El Matador has warned him that he’ll have to get in line before competing for the lightweight title.
While speaking with Alvaro Colmenero and other members of the press this week, he said, “If he loses I don’t give him anything. If he loses, nothing. Let him get in line.”
Of course, before there’s any talk of a Topuria-Makhachev throwing down in a champ vs. champ fight, both fighters will have to emerge victorious from their upcoming fights.
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