Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has been vocal about his desire to move up to the welterweight division. But with his teammate and friend Belal Muhammad holding the welterweight title, Makhachev had to put that ambition on hold. Following Muhammad’s recent loss to Jack Della Maddalena, Makhachev has now moved up the division to fight for the belt. However, many have criticized him for making the move so quickly.
Makhachev announced his intention shortly after Maddalena was crowned the new welterweight champion, and a matchup between the current welterweight champ and the former lightweight king has since been confirmed. While fans are excited for the bout, some—including UFC fighter Joaquin Buckley—have accused Makhachev of rooting against Muhammad. UFC legend Daniel Cormier has stepped in to defend him, dismissing those claims.
Cormier, who trained alongside Makhachev at AKA, believes it’s unfair to suggest Makhachev was hoping for Muhammad’s downfall.
Cormier addressed the controversy on his YouTube channel (via MMAJunkie), saying:
“I don’t think Makhachev was praying for Belal to lose,” Cormier said. “I know the guy, and I don’t think that’s in him, to want to see one of his friends lose just so he can gain an opportunity. But what Buckley is doing, from trolling Ian Garry to now trying to target Islam Makhachev, it’s one of the only ways he’s truly going to find his way into those big fights that he wants so desperately. He beats Kamaru Usman, obviously he’s going to be in line to get a great fight.”
Although Cormier believes Makhachev had no ill intent toward his teammate, he admits that jumping between lightweight and welterweight will be a real challenge.
“That’s difficult. That’s hard. Especially once you get that belt at the next weight class, why do I have to cut the weight when I’m the champion here? It’s a very hard thing.”
Whatever the case may be between Makhachev and Muhammad, the former lightweight champ now has a chance to fulfill his goal of capturing UFC gold in a second weight class.
