Islam Makhachev Eyes Double-Champ Status After UFC 294 Title Defense

Makhachev has his sights set on double-champ status.

Author:
Drew Beaupré
Publish date:
Oct 4, 2023 7:53 PM EDT

Islam Makhachev has only defended his lightweight title once so far, but apparently he’s already seriously considering the idea of moving up a division to claim another belt.

The 32-year-old first became champion last year when he submitted Charles Oliveira at UFC 280, and he’s set to meet “Do Bronx” for a second time this month when the pair headline UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi.

Makhachev’s last fight saw him win a narrow unanimous decision over Alexander Volkanovski and spoil the Australian’s bid to become a two-division champion. The lightweight titleholder won’t have an easy time adding to his 12-fight win streak when he takes on Oliveira again on October 21, but Makhachev already seems to be looking ahead to the UFC 296 main event between Leon Edwards and Colby Covington.

Leon Edwards — Edwards currently holds the UFC's welterweight title.
(Per Haljestam/USA TODAY Sports)

“Edwards vs. Colby -- I really believe I can beat [the winner],” Makhachev told ESPN. “I look at their skills and what they have as champion and I know my skills. It's going to be a good fight. I'm not saying I'm going to beat them easy. It's going to be a hard, tough fight against a big guy. But I believe I can finish those guys.”

Volkanovski has already suggested he’d like to move back up to lightweight for a rematch with Makhachev following his fifth featherweight title defense against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290.

Justin Gaethje also looks poised for his third lightweight title shot after he claimed the BMF belt by knocking out Dustin Poirier, but Makhachev argues that he deserves the same chance that “The Great” was given at UFC 284 in February.

Islam Makhachev Alexander Volkanovski — Makhachev defeated Volkanovski by decision in his last fight.
(Jasmin Frank/USA TODAY Sports)

"I gave a chance to that guy, so they have to give me a chance, too. I gave a chance to a guy from another division to come to my weight and to try to take this belt, and he lost. I want my chance, too."

The welterweight title fight between Edwards and Covington was only recently confirmed as the headlining bout for UFC 296 after UFC CEO Dana White anointed “Chaos” as the division’s next challenger back in March.

Covington is a former interim titleholder and hasn’t competed since a decision win over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272, while Edwards is currently unbeaten in his last 12 bouts and is coming off back-to-back wins over Kamaru Usman.

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