It looks like Islam Makhachev’s plans for a dual-weight champion win were snatched away. The culprit is none other than Belal Muhammad, who became the first UFC champion from Palestine, and he won the welterweight title at UFC 304.
Makhachev, on the other hand, is the lightweight champ after defeating Dustin Poirier at UFC 302. Both the combatants are champs and even friends, but one friend ruined another’s dream. How?
This answer was subtly given by team Khabib’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, who revealed the main reason why Makhachev might be having second thoughts. Let’s see what he had to say!
Islam Makhachev’s dual-weight champion dreams have changed
During an interview with ESPN MMA, Abdelaziz was speaking to Brett Okamoto about the status of champs Islam Makhachev and Belal Muhammad. During this conversation, the CEO of Dominance MMA Management cleared his and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s opinion on Makhachev’s dual-weight title dreams. Seemingly, the idea has taken a backseat in the lightweight champ’s mind. Abdelaziz said, “I don’t think Islam is going to go up you know, they very good friends you know. They train together and I think it’s too much respect and too much integrity and honor between these two guys and I don’t think Khabib will allow that or Islam will allow that or Belal will allow that.”
The welterweight champ and Makhachev are close friends, and the reigning lightweight champ has expressed his interest in moving up to 170 pounds to become a two-division champ. If this remains his goal, then there could be an interesting predicament, and that is exactly what happened. Muhammad has dethroned Edwards, so for now, Makhachev’s plans of a dual-weight champ have been ruined.
Despite this fact, Makhachev was happy with his teammate’s performance. Appearing in a press conference recently, he expressed his feelings on the victory of ‘Remember the Name’. He said, “Belal, don’t give him any chance; smash him everywhere… and now Belal is champion.” Yet he also hilariously commented on how his friend ruined his double championship ambitions. He said, “And this guy broke my plans, you know, to be double champ.”
The reason was given by Abdelaziz, who said that since Muhammad and Makhachev are friends, they would not compete against each other. Even ‘The Eagle’ would not allow this because they are from the same camp. Only if Muhammad does not remain a champ might Makahchev compete in the welterweight category. On top of that, Makhachev is suffering from an injury right now, which might keep him away from the octagon for a long time.
Team Khabib gave crucial updates on Islam Makhachev’s injury
Fans were visibly worried when it was revealed that the champ might have to get operated on to fix the tendon injury he had suffered in his hand, and this might lead him to vacate his championship belt. However, Javier Mendez has given an update in a recent interview with Submission Radio. The champion had made it clear that he would be taking proper medical tests to heal before October 2024. Makhachev clarified that the physicians would decide whether his injury would need any surgery or not.
He said, “I don’t know how he’s looking; I do know what was told. No surgery was needed; he just needed rest in his tendon.” However, since rest is still needed, the coach did not reveal when the champ was going to return. He candidly answered, “I haven’t spoken to them [Makhachev] in regards to when he is going to start training. So, right now… I don’t really have any answer that would be correct other than no surgery. That, I do know.”
Now, if he does come back soon, his next contender would be Arman Tsarukyan. The Dagestani champ stated that the fight between the duo has been on his mind for a long time. However, Michael Chandler, who is fighting Charles Oliveira at UFC 309, said that the winner between them would fight Makhachev next. Till then, Makhachev has ample time to rest.