Welterweight champion Islam Makhachev has revealed that his team discussed a potential move to middleweight, although making the jump would require more than initially expected.<\/p>\n
Makhachev became a two-division UFC champion in 2025 after defeating former welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena to capture the 170-pound title.<\/p>\n
The Dagestani champion has four successful title defenses at lightweight and one at welterweight. He has now said that his next fight will be the last of his career.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, Makhachev had also considered the possibility of moving up to middleweight with his team. That move, though, might never materialize.<\/p>\n
Islam Makhachev on Moving Up to Middleweight<\/p>\n
In an interview with Red Corner MMA, Makhachev was asked whether he was interested in pursuing a third divisional title after reaching the pinnacle of the sport by becoming a two-division champion.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n \u201cIn order to become a middleweight, I will have to stay in Uzbekistan for a month and eat Uzbek pilaf. It would be hard. Yes, we\u2019ve talked about it with the team. But we still need to think it over because I would have to gain a lot of muscle for that,\u201d\u00a0Makhachev joked in response.<\/p>\n Although Makhachev revealed that he had discussed the move with his team, his latest post on X suggests that his next outing will be his last.<\/p>\n Makhachev\u2019s Statement on Retirement<\/p>\n Islam Makhachev spoke about retirement on social media a few weeks ago. As a result, a potential move to middleweight now seems very unlikely.<\/p>\n \u201cMy next fight is one of the last in my career. They say Prates is too dangerous for me and Morales is too good for me. So I want to face the best of them and prove to the world once again who is the best in world,\u201d Makhachev wrote.<\/p>\n