Is Islam Makhachev destined to turn out to be the first-ever three-weight UFC champion?
To this point, there have solely been 9 fighters within the promotion’s 30+ 12 months 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 very least, that’s what legendary MMA coach Javier Mendez thinks.
“Yeah, I’d say he has that potential,” Mendez informed The Schmo. “He undoubtedly does—100%. He has the flexibility, the mindset, and the work ethic. He can undoubtedly try this if that’s his want and the UFC permits him to go there. So sure, I can see that taking place.”
Mendez is sort of conversant in 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 desires to etch his title within the historical past books because the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion, his subsequent process will probably be to take the welterweight title, although some imagine Makhachev would don’t have any challenge skipping the subsequent weight class up and going straight to middleweight.
“I 100% really feel Islam can try this if that’s what he wished to do,” Mendez mentioned when requested about Makhachev’s potential transfer to 185. “However, it’s what he desires to try this will occur. Not his capacity. His capacity, I imply, come on. I see it within the gymnasium, guys. I see it, so I understand how good this man is. So, yeah, 185 just isn’t gonna be a difficulty for him. It’s a matter of whether or not he desires to.
“When he is available in coaching camp he’s all the time strolling round 179, 180,” Mendez mentioned. “So, clearly, if he ever went to middleweight he’d must placed on some muscle. However, not saying he can’t and never saying he gained’t or he doesn’t need it. I don’t know, we’ve by no means mentioned it” (h/t BJPenn.com).
Earlier than the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ can concern himself with difficult for one more title, he’ll must get previous the division’s top-ranked contender, Arman Tsarukyan. Akhalkalakets’ earned the precise to be subsequent in step 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.
