Islam Makhachev was the last fighter to step onto the scales at UFC 284’s official weigh-ins yesterday. The lightweight champion weighed in at 155 pounds, which meant that the official lightweight title fight would go ahead as planned.
But Makhachev’s journey to the weigh-in scales was not an easy one, and he was visibly overcome with emotion when the officials declared he had made weight. Tears streamed down the cheeks of the lightweight champion as relief no doubt washed over him, as Makhachev could now focus on the fight to come.
A video of the moment was posted on Instagram by ESPN MMA.
Michael Bisping, who will commentate at UFC 284 alongside Jon Anik and Dominick Cruz, claimed he had been notified that there was a good chance Islam Makhachev could miss weight prior to the lightweight champion weighing in.
Bisping covered the official weigh-in show alongside Cruz and Robert Whittaker, and released a video following the event describing the tension surrounding Makhachev’s weight cut:
“Rumor is that he was struggling. And he was one of the last to come down. So we were getting told by the producers, ‘Just be ready because there’s a very good possibility that Islam doesn’t make weight.”
Islam Makhachev is regarded as a big fighter for the 155-pound division, and rumors are that he weighs roughly 190 pounds outside of fight camp. The Dagestani has suffered brutal weight cuts in the past, most notably against Thiago Moises in 2021.
Watch the full UFC 284 weigh-ins below:
Islam Makhachev says fighting Alexander Volkanovski is more motivating than any top lightweights
Islam Makhachev will make the first defense of his lightweight title against featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in the main event of UFC 284. Makhachev is eager to usurp Volkanovski as the No.1 ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC, while ‘The Great’ has his sights set on becoming a two-division champion.
The lightweight division in the UFC is unbelievably stacked, and has been regarded as the promotion’s most talented division in the past. But according to Islam Makhachev, fighting Alexander Volkanovski has motivated him more than any current lightweight fighter could.
During a recent interview with Daniel Cormier, Makhachev said:
“For me it’s more than just a defense, you know? I fight for something new. Just a defense, it’s not the same. Not the same motivation… Now I have some new goal, to be pound-for-pound king.”
Watch the interview below:
