Islam Makhachev submitted Renato Moicano at UFC 311 to become the first Lightweight in UFC History to defend his belt on 4 occasions. This has made him in the eyes of many better than his elder brother-like figure, mentor and coach, Khabib Nurmagomedov. And now it’s finally time to cement his legacy as not the Greatest Lightweight in UFC history, but as the Greatest Fighter In UFC history period. To do that, Islam Makhachev will cross the horizons of his own domination and venture into a territory only a handful of others have succeeded. And that is moving weight classes and having multiple belts around their waists.
But such is the dominance of the Dagestani fighter that he could in reality not only become a 2 champ but the first-ever triple champ in UFC history. After his victory at UFC 311 in Inglewood, California, Islam Makhachev made it clear that he wants to fight for his 2nd belt very soon. In the post-fight presser, Islam stated, “I don’t know when it’s going to happen but I am not leaving this sport without a second belt. Right now my goal is to be a double champion. I don’t know if it’s going to be the next fight or when. I am going to still fight, still win. I will defend my belt. When they give me a chance, I will be a double champion.”
But there is a slight issue that the 33-year-old may face in his quest to achieve this dream of becoming a double champ. And that is his relationship with the current holder of the Welterweight Division, Belal Muhammad. The Palestinian-born fighter shares a good relationship with Islam Makhachev and also has been his training partner on many occasions.
But Islam has stated that to avoid this conflict he would be willing to jump not one but two weight classes and fight at 180lbs with the Middleweight Champion. Even his coach has shown confidence in the Dagestani fighter to do so. Currently, on a 15-match win streak, Islam Makhchev could be matched up next against the winner of the rematch between Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland, which will take place at UFC 312 in February. The winner most likely would be Dricus Du Plessis and if he does march out of the fight victorious, he would have defended his belt against Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland, leaving him available for a matchup with Makhachev.
And if in the future Islam Makhachev claims the Middleweight Crown and the Welterweight Crown falls into the hands of someone not named Belal or even Shavkhat who is another acquaintance of Makhachev, what’s to say that Islam cannot be the first ever UFC Triple Champion?
