UFC champ Islam Makhachev regrets not moving to welterweight earlier

6 hours ago7 min read5 comments

In a move that speaks volumes about the physical and spiritual toll of elite competition, UFC champion Islam Makhachev is not merely looking forward; he is reflecting on a path not taken, a weight not shed sooner. His recent domination of Jack Della Maddalena to claim the 170-pound welterweight crown at UFC 322 was more than just another victory—it was a liberation.For years, Makhachev, a titan of the lightweight division with a record-setting four title defenses, had subjected his 34-year-old body to the brutal, dehydrating ritual of cutting to 155 pounds. It’s a process familiar to every fighter, a gauntlet run in hotel saunas and bathtubs that saps vitality in exchange for a competitive edge.But for Makhachev, that edge had become a blade turned inward. In a recent, introspective scrum, the champion painted a picture of a journey that began with the humble dream of simply cracking the top 15, of testing himself against the best.As he ascended—top 10, then the belt—his perspective shifted. He realized he could 'afford going up a weight class, gaining weight in a proper way,' a revelation that transformed his entire existence inside the cage.The proof was in his last fight, where for the first time in what felt like an eternity, he stood across from his opponent not as a man diminished by a punishing cut, but as an equal, physically whole and powerful. The regret he now carries is palpable; it’s the ghost of all those grueling weight cuts past, the realization that he had been forcing his body through an unnecessary crucible for far too long.This is the human spirit in sports laid bare—the moment an athlete transcends the conventional metrics of success and listens to the wiser, older voice of his own physical well-being. It’s a lesson in knowing when to push and when to evolve.When the specter of a superfight against the current lightweight king, Ilia Topuria, was raised, Makhachev’s response was not that of a man chasing every available glory, but of a seasoned warrior protecting his most valuable asset: his health. 'It would have to be a very good offer to make me cut down to 155 once again,' he stated, a simple sentence weighted with the profound truth of a career in its latter stages.'I'm not that young for this sport, and every weight cut takes a lot of health from me. ' His words echo beyond the octagon, a powerful reminder that even the most dominant champions are human, bound by the same physical limitations as anyone else. His story is no longer just about titles and defenses; it’s about the wisdom to redefine one’s own legacy, to trade a pound of flesh for a longer, healthier career, and in doing so, finding a new kind of strength.

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#Islam Makhachev

#UFC

#welterweight champion

#title fight

#weight cut

#Jack Della Maddalena

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