Is Islam Makhachev destined to change into the first-ever three-weight UFC champion?
So far, there have solely been 9 fighters within the promotion’s 30+ yr historical past who’ve captured gold in two totally different divisions: Randy Couture, BJ Penn, Georges St-Pierre, Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Henry Cejudo, Amanda Nunes, Jon ‘Bones’ Jones, and Alex Pereira.
And whereas solely 4 of them held their two belts concurrently, none of them ever went on to seize a 3rd world title.
But when there’s one man who can do it, it’s reigning light-weight king Islam Makhachev. At the least, that’s what legendary MMA coach Javier Mendez thinks.
“Yeah, I would say he has that potential,” Mendez advised The Schmo. “He definitely does—100%. He has the ability, the mindset, and the work ethic. He can definitely do that if that’s his desire and the UFC allows him to go there. So yes, I can see that happening.”
Mendez is sort of accustomed to Makhachev’s expertise contained in the cage having labored with him and his mentor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, for a few years on the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California.
Mendez believes Islam makhachev would don’t have any points transferring as much as middleweight
If Makhachev really needs to etch his identify within the historical past books because the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion, his subsequent activity will possible be to take the welterweight title, although some imagine Makhachev would don’t have any problem skipping the subsequent weight class up and going straight to middleweight.
“I 100 percent feel Islam can do that if that’s what he wanted to do,” Mendez mentioned when requested about Makhachev’s potential transfer to 185. “However, it’s what he needs to try this will occur. Not his potential. His potential, I imply, come on. I see it within the fitness center, guys. I see it, so I understand how good this man is. So, yeah, 185 shouldn’t be gonna be a difficulty for him. It’s a matter of whether or not he needs to.
“When he comes in training camp he’s always walking around 179, 180,” Mendez mentioned. “So, obviously, if he ever went to middleweight he’d have to put on some muscle. But, not saying he can’t and not saying he won’t or he doesn’t want it. I don’t know, we’ve never discussed it” (h/t BJPenn.com).
Earlier than the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ can concern himself with difficult for an additional title, he’ll must get previous the division’s top-ranked contender, Arman Tsarukyan. Akhalkalakets’ earned the correct to be subsequent consistent with back-to-back wins in opposition to Beneil Dariush and Charles Oliveira, extending his unbeaten streak to 4.
Makhachev and Tsarukyan will meet within the UFC 311 headliner on January 18 when the promotion heads to the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles for the primary pay-per-view of 2025.
