Outside Source
When Makhachev entered the UFC in 2015, he had only dreamed of reaching the top of the division. Makhachev eventually won the lightweight title in 2022 and defended it four times. Makhachev had started contemplating a move up to welterweight in recent years, as it was no secret that his weight cuts for lightweight were extremely gruelling.
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Makhachev vacated his lightweight title earlier this year to challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight title. While some had expected Makhachev to have a size disadvantage, the Dagestani star looked as big as Maddalena, if not bigger. Makhachev dominantly controlled the Australian for five rounds to earn a unanimous decision win at UFC 322 earlier this month.
Hindsight’s 20-20
Makhachev (28-1) recently revealed that he slightly regrets not moving up to welterweight earlier in his career. Makhachev wishes he hadn’t put his body through the brutal weight cuts to lightweight for so long.
“When I started, I was only dreaming of making it to the Top 15 and fighting the best of the best,” Makhachev told reporters in Dagestan. “Then, when I entered the Top 15, then the Top 10, then won the belt, I started feeling that I could afford to go up a weight class, gaining weight in a proper way, so I could feel comfortable up there and not have to cut that much weight. And that’s how it really played out. In my last fight, I wasn’t smaller than my opponent; we were on equal terms, and I regretted a bit that I didn’t move up way before, forcing myself to cut that much weight for such a long time.”
Islam Makhachev says he regretted not moving up earlier after fighting at the welterweight division 🤯🔥
“When I started, I was only dreaming of making it to the top 15. Then, when I entered the top 15, then the top 10, then won the belt, I started feeling that I could afford to… pic.twitter.com/fNokTDEMRK
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) November 24, 2025
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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