Former UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is set to challenge for the welterweight title at UFC 322 on November 15th, and many wonder how he’ll size up against the much larger Jack Della Maddalena.
In a new interview with ESPN MMA, Makhachev shared some details on his transition to 170 pounds and whether he’d ever consider returning to 155.
“I want to walk around [192 pounds],” Makhachev said. “It’s like [192] and five weeks out at [182 pounds]. And it’s gonna be a very easy cut, honestly, I think. We’ll see. I still keep in keep in touch with the US nutritionist guys. They give me good supplements, good advice also.”
The weight cut was always tough for Makhachev, and being able to concentrate on training instead of nutrition has been a highlight of the camp.
“I’ve changed weight divisions and my life is changed,” he said. “Always, like all my life, I have to think what I’m gonna eat, what I have to eat for the dinner. Now I can enjoy my can camp, eat whatever I want, and just smile and train.”
“155, I make weight always, but it’s so difficult, so hard always. I feel that [it affected my performance]. No one who who cut [22 pounds], more than [22 pounds], they never recover it 100%. I still feel like I recovered for for the fights like maybe 60%. Because it’s so hard to recover it by 30 hours. And now I’m very excited to see how I’m gonna feel in the cage.”
As for coming back down to lightweight at some point for a superfight with Ilia Topuria, Makhachev never said never, but it’s clear it would take a lot of money to convince him.
“If I have to cut to 155, then it’s gonna be hard,” he said. “And Dana White have to pay for this.”
Islam Makhachev faces Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden, with the co-main being Weili Zhang vs. Valentina Shevchenko in another champion vs. champion bout. Moving up is always risky business, but history isn’t made by the risk-adverse. We’ll see how things size up in New York City.
