Islam
Makhachev is far more comfortable competing at welterweight and
won’t move back down to 155 pounds.
Makhachev (28-1) defended the
Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight title four times
before moving up to welterweight. He dominantly dethroned Jack
Della Maddalena to win the 170-pound title last year and is now
scheduled to defend it against Ian Garry
(17-1) at UFC
330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
Javier Mendez shuts down possibility of Islam Makhachev
returning to lightweight
Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, doesn’t believe his fighter will
switch between weight classes and is likely done with lightweight
entirely. Mendez recently revealed that the champion has gained
five kilos (11 pounds) of muscle since moving up to welterweight
and isn’t looking to move back down.
“He’s gained five kilos of muscle and feels better at
welterweight,” Mendez told Alvaro Colmenero. “He prefers this
weight class. I don’t think he’ll ever fight at lightweight.”
Notably, Makhachev has previously stated that he can compete at
middleweight as well. When Dricus Du
Plessis was the 185-pound champion, then-lightweight king
Makhachev claimed that if the UFC offered him a title fight against
the South African, he would gladly accept. However, the Russian
hasn’t mentioned middleweight since moving up, shining a light on
170-pound contenders like Carlos
Prates instead.
I’ve been interviewing Javier Mendez,
Islam
Makhachev’s coach. Here’s a summary of some of the interesting
comments he shared with me.„He’s gained 5 kilos of muscle, and feels better at welterweight—he
prefers this weight class. I don’t think he’ll ever fight at
lightweight“.— Álvaro Colmenero (@KOlmeneroMMA)
August 10, 2026