Islam Makhachev still claims the throne, ‘I don’t lose my belt to anyone’. As Islam Makhachev prepares for one of the biggest moves of his career, the former UFC lightweight champion remains as confident as ever. Even though he vacated the 155-pound title to compete at welterweight, Makhachev insists he still carries the mindset of a reigning champion.
On Saturday, Makhachev moves up to 170 pounds to challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight title in the main event of UFC 322. Speaking to the media ahead of his next fight, Makhachev made his feelings clear:
“I feel I’m still champion,” Makhachev said at the UFC 322 pre-fight press conference. “I don’t lose my belt to anyone. I’m just coming to get second one.”
For Makhachev, the belt wasn’t taken from him, he simply moved on to a bigger challenge. The Dagestani star emphasizes that stepping up in weight doesn’t erase what he achieved at lightweight, especially since no one has beaten him for the title inside the Octagon.
Earlier this year, Makhachev broke the UFC lightweight record by defending his title four times in a row, with his last win coming in January at UFC 311 when he stopped Renato Moicano. After that fight, many people expected a big super fight between him and then–featherweight champion Ilia Topuria but Makhachev was more focused on moving up in weight to chase a second world title. When Jack Della Maddalena defeated Makhachev’s close friend; Belal Muhammad to win the welterweight belt, it finally created the opening Makhachev had been waiting for which was the chance to step up to welterweight and go after another championship he has wanted for a long time.
“This is my dream,” Makhachev said. “I’m very close to my dream. All my professional career, when I was lightweight champion, my dream was to become double champion. And two more days.” “Oh, I don’t know, man,” Makhachev said about his place among the best ever. “I’m not thinking about this right now. I’m thinking about the belt. I spent all my life for just to be champion, and now I’m close to that dream right now.”
Makhachev has also been vocal about his long-term goal of building a legacy that includes championships in multiple divisions. He said back in 2024 that breaking title-defense records matters less to him than earning a second world title. Now, with a welterweight title opportunity on the horizon at UFC 322, Makhachev enters the new division with the same dominant presence he showed at lightweight. If he wins, he’ll join the elite list of UFC fighters who have held belts in two divisions which is a dream he has openly chased for years.
Makhachev’s rise has never been about noise, it has always been about results. Now, with a record-breaking reign behind him and a new challenge ahead, he steps into the welterweight journey with the same resolve that made him dominant at lightweight. And as long as no one has taken that belt from him inside the cage, Makhachev believes his championship legacy remains untouched.
