Islam Makhachev explains giving up UFC title to chase welterweight 'dream'

USA Today

3 days ago

Islam Makhachev admits he would've like simultaneous two-division UFC champion status but understand why the promotion wanted him to give up the lightweight belt.
Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) will see his 155-pound title run officially come to an end Saturday at UFC 317 in Las Vegas when Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira meet for the vacant strap in the main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).
The idea of Makhachev moving up to welterweight started to grow in strength prior to May's UFC 315 event, when UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that if Belal Muhammad defended the belt, Makhachev would be fighting Topuria this weekend, but if Jack Della Maddalena captured gold, as he did by unanimous decision, Makhachev would move up to face him.
Just a few days after Della Maddalena' win, White announced Makhachev would be moving up to face him, but would be vacating the lightweight belt he defended a record four consecutive times.
Makhachev said this possibility truly first came into the fold after UFC 311 in January when Hunter Campbell entered his locked room.
"Right now it's the best time," Makhachev told MMA Junkie in an exclusive interview on Wednesday. "I was waiting for (Arman) Tsarukyan because he also has very good win-streak and people were waiting for this fight. He pulled out of the last fight and I don't see any interesting fights in my division. That's why we made the decision to move up because they have new champion, a good fighter in Jack Della Maddalena and this fight makes me train every day and wake up early morning."
In the midst of the days leading up to UFC 315, photos of UFC Chief Business Officer Campbell emerged from him visiting Makhachev's native Dagestan. It was widely believed that trip was made in effort to have Makhachev fight Topuria, but that was not the case.
"Everybody think he comes to make a fight with Topuria, but he was here and we talked about fighting against whoever the winner is between Della Maddalena and Belal. He told me, 'I know Belal is your friend, but this is a sport. Shake hands, fight, after the fight it's respect and that's it. See who is the best in the world.' We had a big discussion about that," Makhachev said. "I told him, 'Let's wait for the fight when Belal fight with Della Maddalena and we will see what we have to do.' Right after the fight in Los Angeles, Hunter came to my locker room and told me, 'Now is the good time, any day when you want to move up you have the opportunity. Just tell us.'"
Makhachev, 33, admitted it would've been his preference to keep the lightweight title and, if only for one night, join Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, Conor McGregor and Henry Cejudo as the only fighters in UFC history to hold two belts simultaneously. That didn't happen, and although it's somewhat disappointing, Makhachev said it would've been unfair to the division to keep the belt hostage with no clear defense timeline.
"I want to hold my belt from the lightweight, but it's not possible because if I fight with Della Maddalena in October or November," Makhachev said. "Then in February Ramadan is beginning, holding more than one year of the lightweight belt (without defending) is not what I want to do. It's not respectful to all those."
Makhachev said he he hopes his 170-pound title fight against Della Maddalena is booked for UFC's annual event in Madison Square Garden in November, which is a venue he has long wanted to compete at.
It's the current plan to capture the belt and defend it to even further enhance his legacy, but Makhachev said a return to lightweight to take back what was once his is something he will not rule out.
"Maybe (I'll return to lightweight)," Makhachev said. "We will see. If something interesting comes up, we will see. I don't say no because maybe.