Islam Makhachev’s ambition to ascend to the welterweight division and potentially vie for a second UFC title might face a twist contingent upon the outcome of UFC 304.
At this event, Leon Edwards is slated to defend his welterweight title against Belal Muhammad in July. Should Muhammad emerge victorious, it could present an intriguing scenario for Makhachev, who harbors aspirations of championship glory in a higher weight class.
During an appearance on the Weighing In podcast with John McCarthy and Josh Thomson, Makhachev was queried about his plans in the event of Muhammad securing the welterweight belt from Edwards. Makhachev, seemingly keeping his options open, hinted at a potential collaboration given their shared manager. He acknowledged Muhammad’s dedication and training regimen, suggesting that a potential matchup between them would be formidable.
Makhachev, aged 32, is eyeing a rarefied status within the UFC: that of a two-division champion. Only nine fighters in UFC history have achieved this milestone, including legends like Randy Couture, BJ Penn, Conor McGregor, Georges St-Pierre, Daniel Cormier, Jon Jones, Amanda Nunes, Henry Cejudo, and Alex Pereira.
Couture and Penn were the inaugural dual-weight champions, followed by McGregor and St-Pierre, who solidified their status as icons within the sport. Cormier and Jones replicated Couture’s achievement, with Jones currently holding the lineal heavyweight championship.
Nunes stands as the lone woman in this elite group, having held titles in both the bantamweight and featherweight divisions. Cejudo joined this illustrious roster by capturing both the flyweight and bantamweight titles, while Pereira is the latest addition after securing the middleweight and light heavyweight straps.
With his lightweight title defense against Dustin Poirier scheduled for UFC 302 next month, Makhachev is evidently eyeing a rapid trajectory towards joining this esteemed league of two-division champions. His ambitions signal a drive for greatness and a desire to leave an indelible mark on the sport of mixed martial arts.
