"It's not as easy as it used to be" - Islam Makhachev outlines one condition to fight at lightweight again after UFC 322 title win

Islam Makhachev on potentially moving back down to lightweight. [Image courtesy: Getty Images]
Islam Makhachev on potentially moving back down to lightweight. [Image courtesy: Getty Images]

Islam Makhachev recently addressed the possibility of competing at lightweight again. The Dagestani grappling savant outlined one condition to cut down to 155 pounds again.

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Makhachev defeated Jack Della Maddalena via unanimous decision at UFC 322 earlier this month to become the new welterweight king. Makhachev vacated the lightweight title after Della Maddalena beat Belal Muhammad in their welterweight title fight at UFC 315 in May and moved up to the 170-pound division. He's notably the 11th fighter in UFC history to become a two-division champion.

In a recent interview, Makhachev addressed a potential super fight against Ilia Topuria at lightweight and made it clear that cutting weight isn't as easy for him at 34 compared to when he was younger. However, he'd be willing to do it if the money was right. He said:

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"As for 155, it would have to be a very good offer to make me cut down to 155 once again. I’m not that young for this sport, and every weight cut takes a lot of health from me. It’s not as easy as it used to be."

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Ilia Topuria reacts to Islam Makhachev beating Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322

Ilia Topuria wasn't impressed with Jack Della Madalena's performance against Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 and seemingly called out the new welterweight king for a showdown.

In an X post, Topuria called Makhachev's game "boring" and urged Della Maddalena to focus an entire training camp on wrestling in Georgia. Sharing a bold prediction for a potential fight against Makhachev, Topuria wrote:

"Jack needs an entire camp dedicated just to wrestling. What a disappointment of a champion. You should go to Georgia to learn something. Islam, you need something you can’t train: emotion. You’re the most boring thing in this game. Every day, I’m more certain I put you to sleep."

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Edited by Nishant Zende.
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