If Islam Makhachev moves to the UFC welterweight division, a top contender is happy to let him skip the line for a title shot.
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is plotting his next move after last defending the belt against Renato Moicano at UFC 311. After Ilia Topuria‘s addition to the lightweight division, Makhachev seemed in line to face Topuria for his next title defense, but has since expressed some disinterest in granting the former featherweight champ an immediate title shot.
In the meantime, Makhachev is reportedly contemplating a full-time move to welterweight for his next UFC venture. But a major obstacle stands in his way of making the switch, as UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad is a friend and teammate of Makhachev.
Another top welterweight believes Makhachev could dominate the division if he opts to make the move up in weight.
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Ian Machado Garry makes a big admission about Islam Makhachev’s welterweight move
Ahead of UFC Kansas City this weekend, Ian Machado Garry has his sights set on eventually earning a welterweight title shot after suffering his first career loss to Shavkat Rakhmonov in December. Garry takes on Carlos Prates in a pivotal welterweight clash this weekend.
During a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Garry acknowledged how Makhachev’s addition to the welterweight division would impact the top contenders.
“He can jump the queue if he wants to, he’s Islam Makhachev, he’s the pound-for-pound number one. You’ve gotta give respect when respect is due,” Garry said of Makhachev. “And if that man turns up and says ‘I want to be next’, I think everyone in the welterweight division gives the ‘OK’. And I think if you try to argue that, you don’t have respect for the greatest in the world.
“I think he’s an absolute disaster for everyone in the division if he comes up and doesn’t have to cut weight…he’s the perfect example of the new evolution of fighters, great everywhere. You look at Khabib, and Khabib was dominant at grappling. Islam is the exact same, but probably more clean when it comes to his grappling…and when you look at Islam on the feet, he can crack. I think he makes the welterweight division even more fun, and I would love to test myself against him.”
Garry is one of several young stars in the welterweight division, alongside the likes of Prates, Michael Morales, and Jack Della Maddalena. As of this writing, Makhachev’s next fight hasn’t been booked, although an International Fight Week clash with Topuria is a possibility.
If Makhachev vacates the lightweight title for a move to welterweight, and Maddalena wins at UFC 315, Maddalena vs. Makhachev could potentially be the next title fight. If Muhammad wins, Makhachev could potentially delay a move to welterweight or wait for Muhammad’s title reign to come to an end.
Islam Makhachev’s next fight could be determined by UFC 315 headliner result
Topuria recently kicked off his training camp, rumored to be for a fight at UFC 317 in June. But as of this writing, nothing has been announced regarding his next fight, which means that Makhachev’s decision could dictate Topuria’s next opponent.
Meanwhile, Garry and Prates have traded barbs in recent days, making their UFC Kansas City main event all the more important. The winner could potentially move one step closer to a title shot, alongside the likes of UFC London winner Sean Brady and Rakhmonov.
If Makhachev moves up, the UFC welterweight division will become even more stacked. It’s one of the biggest storylines of 2025, as the pound-for-pound king plots his next move.
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