Islam Makhachev says he and his team have talked about a possible move up to middleweight, but he called it hard and said nothing is decided. The UFC welterweight champion made the comments in an interview with Red Corner MMA, reported by Bloody Elbow on 7 November 2026. No middleweight fight has been booked.
What Makhachev said about middleweight
Makhachev spoke to Red Corner MMA in Uzbekistan, where he was recognised as a Sambo Grandmaster alongside Fedor Emelianenko, according to the reports. Asked about going up to 185 pounds, he joked: "In order to become a middleweight, I will have to stay in Uzbekistan for a month and eat Uzbek pilaf."
He then turned more serious. "It would be hard. Yes, we've talked about it with the team," he said, adding that they still need to think it over because he would have to gain a lot of muscle.
Where Makhachev stands at welterweight
Pugna MMA's database lists Makhachev at 29-1 and as the UFC welterweight champion, ranked first in the men's pound-for-pound list as of 3 November. He beat Jack Della Maddalena by unanimous decision at UFC 322 on 15 November 2025 to win the 170-pound title, and he retained it with a five-round decision over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 on 15 August 2026.
His next challenger is expected to come out of UFC 336 on 30 January 2027 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Carlos Prates, ranked first at welterweight, meets Michael Morales for the interim welterweight title on that card. Bloody Elbow reports that Makhachev has faced criticism for changing course on facing Prates himself, and that leaving the division before unifying the belts would add to it.
Retirement talk makes a move less likely
MMASucka, which also covered the interview, reported that Makhachev wrote on social media a few weeks ago that his next fight would be one of the last of his career. On that basis it described a middleweight move as very unlikely. That is the outlet's reading, not something Makhachev has said about middleweight. He has also said his mother may have a say in when he retires, as Pugna MMA reported on 6 November.
What comes next
There is no fight, date or announcement tied to the comments. If Makhachev did move up and win a middleweight title, he would become the first UFC fighter to hold titles in three divisions, according to Bloody Elbow. Sean Strickland is the current middleweight champion in Pugna MMA's rankings. For now, the next step at welterweight is the Prates vs. Morales result in Toronto.
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Sources
This article was generated with AI and may contain errors.