Islam Makhachev feels good at welterweight and it certainly showed in his last performance, a title-winning victory over Jack Della Maddalena atop the UFC 322 pay-per-view (PPV) event in New York. In fact,
the former lightweight kingpin regrets not making the move sooner; though to be fair, his decision needed final approval from UFC brass.
Looks like it wasn’t such a “terrible” idea after all.
“In my last fight, I wasn’t smaller than my opponent,” Makhachev told reporters (via Red Corner MMA). “I was in the same physical condition, we were on equal terms, and I regretted a bit that I didn’t move up way before, forcing myself to cut that much weight for such a long time.”
“As for lightweight, it would have to be a very good offer to make me cut down to 155 once again,“ Makhachev continued. “I’m not that young for this sport and every weight cut takes a lot of health from me. It’s not as easy as it used to be.”
Especially without Australian loopholes.
That means fight fans may never see the champion vs. champion showdown between Makhachev and current lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, unless “El Matador” gets cleared for this historic move. As for the long list of hungry welterweight contenders, it appears this former 170-pound titleholder will get first dibs, even if the court of ”Future” opinion has ruled against it.
