Makhachev's Evolution Continues

Islam Makhachev is unlikely to ever return to lightweight, according to his long-time coach Javier Mendez — who revealed the welterweight champion has added 11 pounds of muscle ahead of his title defence against Ian Machado Garry on August 15th.

"He's gained five kilos of muscle and feels better at welterweight. He prefers this weight class. I don't think he'll ever fight at lightweight,” Mendez said

Makhachev joined the UFC in 2015 as a lightweight, building one of the most dominant runs the division has ever seen. Aside from a knockout loss to Adriano Martins early in his career, he defeated Arman Tsarukyan, Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski and Dustin Poirier at 155 pounds before moving up to welterweight in 2025 and beating champion Jack Della Maddalena on debut at 170.

With Garry next, further challenges at welterweight await — including potential bouts against Carlos Prates and Kamaru Usman. But Makhachev's ambitions stretch beyond 170. He has expressed interest in competing at middleweight, where a title win would make him the UFC's first-ever three-division champion.