Islam Makhachev, the former UFC lightweight champion, is preparing for his welterweight debut against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 on November 29 at Madison Square Garden. Ahead of the fight, Makhachev opened up about how the extreme weight cuts to 155 pounds affected his performance and mindset.
In a recent interview with ESPN MMA, Makhachev detailed his new routine and how moving up to 170 pounds has transformed his training and energy levels.
A New Weight, A New Life
“I want to walk around [192 pounds],” Makhachev said. “It’s like [192] and five weeks out at [182 pounds]. And it’s gonna be a very easy cut, honestly, I think. We’ll see. I still keep in keep in touch with the US nutritionist guys. They give me good supplements, good advice also.”
For Makhachev, the shift has allowed him to focus on fighting rather than constant dieting.
“I’ve changed weight divisions and my life is changed,” he said. “Always, like all my life, I have to think what I’m gonna eat, what I have to eat for the dinner. Now I can enjoy my can camp, eat whatever I want, and just smile and train.”
The Toll of Cutting to Lightweight
Even though Makhachev always made weight at 155, the process was exhausting and left him underperforming inside the Octagon.
“155, I make weight always, but it’s so difficult, so hard always. I feel that [it affected my performance]. No one who who cut [22 pounds], more than [22 pounds], they never recover it 100%. I still feel like I recovered for for the fights like maybe 60%. Because it’s so hard to recover it by 30 hours. And now I’m very excited to see how I’m gonna feel in the cage.”
He believes the demanding cut prevented him from performing at his full potential, making this welterweight fight an exciting test of his true abilities.
Could He Return to Lightweight?
Fans have speculated about a possible matchup with Ilia Topuria, which would require Makhachev to drop back down to 155 pounds. While he hasn’t ruled it out, he made it clear the decision would come at a cost.
“If I have to cut to 155, then it’s gonna be hard,” he said. “And Dana White have to pay for this.”
Makhachev faces Della Maddalena in the main event of UFC 322, with Weili Zhang vs. Valentina Shevchenko as the co-main. The fight marks his first appearance at welterweight, and moving up in weight carries risk — but also opportunity.
Success at 170 pounds could establish Makhachev as one of the rare fighters capable of excelling in multiple divisions, and he’s eager to see how his body responds without the strain of a brutal weight cut.
“Now I can enjoy my camp, eat whatever I want, and just smile and train,” he said.
Published on October 28, 2025 at 9:13 am
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