Islam Makhachev’s welterweight ambitions face new obstacle after Belal Muhammad’s latest comments

Makhachev and Muhammad have each expressed disinterest in going through one another in a possible champion vs. champion tremendous battle. Below the tutelage of UFC Corridor of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, each Makhachev and Muhammad have benefited from their time coaching collectively, and Nurmagomedov is firmly towards a possible battle reserving.

As Makhachev and his workforce ponder a possible showdown with Ilia Topuria for his UFC light-weight championship, the light-weight king casts a shadow over the upcoming UFC 315 essential occasion. Muhammad will defend the welterweight belt towards Jack Della Maddalena, and it’s been proposed that the winner may face Makhachev subsequent.

Belal Muhammad doubles down on dismissing Islam Makhachev battle, complicating P4P king’s plans

However Muhammad has proposed a possible transfer as much as middleweight, vacating his welterweight title, to keep away from a showdown with Makhachev and clear the way in which for his good friend and teammate. Amidst the uncertainty of Makhachev’s subsequent battle, the Muhammad battle talks have resurfaced, prompting a response from the welterweight titleholder.

Throughout a current interview with Submission Radio, Muhammad was requested about probably placing his friendship with Makhachev apart to satisfy within the Octagon.

“No, I wouldn’t fight him,” Muhammad assured. “That time, they’ve done so much for me, they’ve helped me so much that it wouldn’t be worth it to fight those guys. There’s too much respect and loyalty on my end…I think people are just wondering and hoping for him to fight, looking for any excuses for him, right? There are guys in that division who make sense. Justin Gaethje makes sense…

“Paddy Pimblett came off a huge finish, he has a big name…Charles Oliveira is waiting for a rematch…there’s plenty of guys. I think Ilia [Topuria] needs to fight somebody before he gets that title shot, because it’s not really worth it for Islam to fight another [featherweight] because no matter what they do, people are going to hate on Islam.”

Makhachev has a number of potential light-weight title challengers ready within the wings, together with rematches with Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan, together with a showdown with Paddy Pimblett. However Makhachev has repeatedly expressed the problem of reducing right down to 155 lbs, opening up the door to a welterweight weight class change.

Of word: Makhachev has by no means missed weight in his UFC profession.

Islam Makhachev labeled ‘an absolute disaster’ for high UFC welterweights

Within the meantime, Makhachev’s potential addition to the welterweight division prompted a high contender to share a stunning take. Ian Machado Garry, who faces Carlos Prates this weekend at UFC Kansas Metropolis, known as Makhachev ‘an absolute disaster’ for the highest welterweights and admitted he’d be okay with Makhachev skipping the road for a right away title shot.

First issues first for Muhammad as he prepares to face Maddalena at UFC 315 in his first welterweight title protection. He received the belt by defeating Leon Edwards at UFC 304 final July.

Makhachev’s subsequent battle is among the largest mysteries of MMA, as of this writing, as summer season shortly approaches. We may study extra within the coming weeks about what the matchmakers will do with Makhachev and plenty of different high stars.