Islam Makhachev says his team has discussed a move up to middleweight

UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev says he and his team have talked about a possible move up to middleweight. He told Red Corner MMA during his visit to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, for the 50th World Sambo Championships that the idea is still being weighed, and that putting on the muscle needed for 185 pounds would be a serious challenge.

"In order to become a middleweight, I will have to stay in Uzbekistan for a month and eat Uzbek pilaf," Makhachev joked, as reported by Bloody Elbow and MMA Sucka. "It would be hard. Yes, we've talked about it with the team. But we still need to think it over because I would have to gain a lot of muscle for that."

A third division on the table

Makhachev, 35, is already a two-division UFC champion. After a long run as lightweight champion, which included a division-record four successful title defenses, he moved up and beat Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in November 2025 to win the welterweight title. He made his first welterweight defense in August at UFC 330, beating Ian Machado Garry. His record is 29-1, with 17 straight wins.

No fighter has ever held UFC titles in three weight classes. Alex Pereira recently came up short in his own attempt when Ciryl Gane knocked him out in their interim heavyweight title fight. Ilia Topuria's plan to chase a third belt at welterweight was put on hold after his loss to Justin Gaethje. The UFC middleweight title is currently held by Sean Strickland.

What is confirmed and what is not

• Confirmed: Makhachev said on camera that the middleweight idea has been discussed within his team.
• Not confirmed: no middleweight fight, opponent or timeline has been announced, and Makhachev himself said the idea still needs "to think it over."
• Next up: the UFC has booked Carlos Prates vs Michael Morales for the interim welterweight title at UFC 336 in January, and the winner is expected to face Makhachev.

Retirement talk adds context

The middleweight comments come the same week Makhachev suggested his career may be nearing its end. Speaking to the same outlet, he said his mother has always been against him fighting and that "soon I will obey her word," MMA Fighting reported. Asked how many fights he has left, he said: "There's no number. I am just reaching the finish line. There aren't many things that could give me motivation in this sport."

He has also written on X that his next fight "is one of the last in my career." A record attempt at a third UFC title would be one of the few motivations left at this stage of his career, but any move to 185 pounds would have to fit into a short and so far unspecified window.

Backlash over UFC 336

The comments may also draw more criticism. Makhachev has taken heat for not defending his title against Prates at UFC 336 and instead letting Prates and Morales fight for the interim belt. As Bloody Elbow noted, that backlash would likely grow if he left welterweight before unifying the title with the interim champion.

For now, Makhachev's stated plan is to face the Prates vs Morales winner. "It's a good fight and I think both of them deserve a title shot," he told Red Corner MMA. "We'll find out in January."