According to one of his undefeated training partners, Islam Makhachev might make a return to the lightweight division after his upcoming challenge for welterweight gold.
The source of this information is featherweight contender Movlid Khaybulaev, who maintains an impressive 22-0-1 record. Khaybulaev is preparing for the PFL World Tournament semi-finals against Tae Kyun Kim.
Khaybulaev trains regularly with Makhachev under the guidance of Khabib Nurmagomedov. He has witnessed Makhachev`s preparations for stepping up to the 170-pound weight class, where the pound-for-pound king is slated to face the newly crowned champion, Jack Della Maddalena.
Teammate Suggests Welterweight Move Isn`t Necessarily Permanent
Islam Makhachev vacated his lightweight title when he decided to move up to 170lb, ending a significant reign. This action paved the way for Charles Oliveira and Ilia Topuria to compete for the vacant belt, a fight scheduled to headline UFC 317.
However, Khaybulaev believes Makhachev`s time competing at 155 pounds is not yet finished. While he doesn`t see rematches with Oliveira or bouts against featherweight champion Topuria as particularly enticing prospects at this moment, a return remains a possibility if a truly compelling fight emerges.
“He said himself if he is going to have an interesting fight at lightweight he will always come back,” Khaybulaev was quoted saying. He elaborated that Makhachev currently feels there are no new, significant challenges left for him at 155lb, which is why he is testing himself by moving up to welterweight.
Confidence in Makhachev`s Ability at Welterweight
Before considering a move back down, Makhachev`s immediate focus is on achieving his goal of becoming a two-division champion. The training philosophy at the Nurmagomedov gym involves sparring across different weight classes, meaning Khaybulaev has firsthand experience of Makhachev effectively handling larger welterweight partners.
Khaybulaev expressed strong confidence in Makhachev`s readiness for the higher weight class. He explained that training partners like himself (a featherweight) sparring with Islam (a lightweight) helps them gauge their physical capabilities against varied opponent sizes. He feels this experience, coupled with Makhachev likely having sparred extensively with heavier individuals, confirms Islam is well-prepared for the welterweight division.
Gareth Pendleton