Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has stated there is no immediate need for him to compete in the lightweight division.
The current 155-pound titleholder will soon vacate his belt, making it available for the main event at UFC 317 this Saturday, contested between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira. Makhachev is expected to remain in the UFC title picture, with plans to face the newly crowned 170-pound champion, Jack Della Maddalena, later this year.
Since securing the vacant title against Oliveira at UFC 280 in 2022, Makhachev (27-1) has successfully defended his championship four consecutive times, setting a UFC record, and extended his overall win streak to 15 fights. The world`s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter recently explained his rationale for deciding to pursue a second divisional title in an interview.
“Because right now it`s the best time,” Makhachev said. “I was waiting for [Arman] Tsarukyan because he also has a very good win streak and people were waiting for this fight. He pulled out in the last fight, and I don`t see some interesting fights in my division. That`s why I made the decision to move up, because now they have a new champion, a very good fighter, Jack Della Maddalena, and it`s a fight making me train every day, make me wake up early morning.”
Prior to the official announcement that Makhachev and Topuria would not face each other, but instead pursue titles in different divisions, fans were hopeful for this highly anticipated matchup. This speculation grew after a picture circulated on social media showing Makhachev meeting with UFC executives.
However, Makhachev has since downplayed these rumors, clarifying that a bout with Topuria was not the main subject of discussion during that meeting.
“Everybody thought [UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell] came to make a fight with Topuria, but he was here, we talked about a fight against the winner between Maddalena and Belal [Muhammad],” Makhachev stated. “He told me, `I know Belal is your friend, but this is a sport.` Shake hands, fight, after the fight, respect, and that`s it. Just see who is the best fighter in the world. We had big discussions about that and I told him let`s wait for the fight when Belal fights with Maddalena. We will see after that what we have to do.”
He added, “Because right after the fight [against Renato Moicano] in Los Angeles, Hunter came to my locker room, `Now it`s the good time, any day, when you want to move up. You have the opportunity, just tell us.`”
Makhachev initially wished to retain his lightweight champion status while challenging Della Maddalena, but he soon realized this wasn`t a feasible option logistically.
“I want to hold the belt from the lightweight, but it`s not possible,” Makhachev explained. “Because I fought in January and we wait, if I fight with Maddalena, when is it going to be? October, November? Fight again in February, Ramadan is beginning. Holding more than one year the lightweight belt, it`s not what I want to do.”
While Della Maddalena vs. Makhachev is not yet officially booked, Makhachev is aiming for a pay-per-view event in either October or November. He expressed enthusiasm for the possibility of competing at Madison Square Garden in New York, a venue he considers “legendary,” particularly if the fight is scheduled there in November during the UFC`s usual annual visit.
For now, he is focusing on gradually increasing his weight appropriately. Makhachev humorously noted that while cutting down to 155 pounds is extremely difficult, he is currently finding it challenging to bulk up for the welterweight division, preparing for what he anticipates will be his most significant challenge yet.
“It`s going to be a hard fight,” Makhachev commented. “I saw his fight against Belal, he`s good. He`s good. When he started fighting in UFC, he had problems with wrestling, but now he`s improved because I see him training a lot with wrestlers, with the grapplers, and that`s why he`s a champion right now and he`s good everywhere.”
He concluded, “But we will see who is the best fighter in the world. Very soon.”
