UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev’s recently confirmed departure from the weight class is something he’s pondered for a while.
Makhachev’s reign will come to an end this year, with the Dagestani fighter set to vacate the 155-pound title in pursuit of a fresh challenge at welterweight.
Amid talk of a super fight against former featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria, Makhachev has instead chosen to shoot for two-division glory following the removal of his friend and occasional training partner Belal Muhammad from the throne at 170 pounds.
For fans of MMA, UFC CEO Dana White’s announcement of the news on Tuesday likely didn’t come as a shock given Makhachev’s frequent talk of bidding farewell to his gruesome weight cut at lightweight.
As it turns out, though, the 33-year-old’s thoughts of that career change have existed well beyond the start of his championship reign.
Josh Thomson claims Makhachev spoke of welterweight switch years before entering title contention
During a recent episode of his Weighing In podcast alongside veteran MMA referee John McCarthy, former Strikeforce champion and UFC fighter Josh Thomson reacted to Makhachev’s title vacation.
Thomson — a teammate of Makhachev’s at American Kickboxing Academy during his fighting days — claimed that the Dagestani was expressing a desire to move up in weight towards the back end of the American’s career.
The 46-year-old hung up his gloves following a 2-1 run under the Bellator MMA banner in 2017.
“I’ve gotta be honest with you, he’s been talking about for a long time just getting tired of cutting the weight,” Thomson said.
“This was back like when I was just getting done fighting. He’s like, ‘Brother, I don’t know how much longer I can do this weight class.'”
Thomson went on to assess how Makhachev was able to continue for so long at lightweight years on from his initial doubts about competing in the division.
“Look how long he’s been doing it! Success does that to you. You find ways to keep doing what you’re doing when you’re having a lot of success. … He has nothing more to gain at 155 [pounds].”
Makhachev’s lightweight successor will be either Charles Oliveira or Ilia Topuria
With Makhachev’s plan to hold two UFC titles simultaneously not coming to fruition, a new champ will soon be crowned in his place.
Alongside confirmation that the Russian will challenge for Jack Della Maddalena’s newly won welterweight gold later this year, White also revealed the matchup for Makhachev’s vacated belt.
In the main event of UFC 317, Topuria and Charles Oliveira will conclude International Fight Week with a battle for the lightweight title.
While the Spaniard has his sights on success in a second division after vacating the featherweight strap this year, his Brazilian peer is chasing a sophomore lightweight championship reign after failing to get the better of Makhachev in 2022.
The pair will top a lineup that currently features one other title fight, in addition to a host of prominent contenders:
- Charles Oliveira vs. Ilia Topuria (UFC lightweight title)
- Alexandre Pantoja (C) vs. Kai Kara-France (UFC flyweight title)
- Paulo Costa vs. Roman Kopylov (middleweight)
- Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano (lightweight)
- Jhonata Diniz vs. Justin Tafa (heavyweight)
- Brandon Royval vs. Manel Kape (flyweight)
- Jack Hermansson vs. Gregory Rodrigues (middleweight)
- Viviane Araujo vs. Tracy Cortez (women’s flyweight)
More bouts are expected to be announced for the lineup in the coming weeks, as the UFC gears up for its annual summer spectacle in Las Vegas.