Islam Makhachev Confident He Could Move to 185 Pounds, Defeat Dricus Du Plessis

Islam Makhachev doesn’t think an eventual move to 185 pounds is unrealistic.

The reigning UFC lightweight champ hasn’t been shy about his desire to eventually become a two-division champion. However, a friendship with current 170-pound king Belal Muhammad complicates matters. If Muhammad holds on to the welterweight belt, Makhachev sees another path to two-division gold.

“My height allows [a move to middleweight],” Makhachev recently told Ushatayka. “I think my physical data allows it, too. I just need to work with my specialists, gain muscle mass, add a little weight. I think I can try. As I already said at the press conference after the fight, if they offered it to me tomorrow and say they will give me time to gain weight, I would not turn it down. I would 100% agree to fight at middleweight.

“I’m not saying that I have a better chance, that I can 100% finish [Dricus] Du Plessis, but watching his fights, watching his style, I think I have the keys to victory.”

Islam Makhachev talks a move to 185:

“My height allows it, I think my physical data allows it too…

I’m not saying that I can 100% finish Du Plessis. But watching his fights, watching his style, I think I have the keys to victory.” 👀

🎥 Ushataykapic.twitter.com/rK2N3mUYof

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 26, 2025

Such a hypothetical bout would likely have to be a little bit further down the road. Du Plessis is currently scheduled to face Sean Strickland in a middleweight championship rematch at UFC 312 on Feb. 8, and if he wins that fight, a title defense against Khamzat Chimaev also looms.

Makhachev is intrigued by at least one possibility at 155 pounds — primarily because it isn’t anyone he has previously faced in the Octagon. Arman Tsarukyan appears to have lost his No. 1 contender spot after withdrawing from the UFC 311 headliner a day before the event. Charles Oliveira has also been mentioned as a possible foe, but Makhachev has already bested both the Brazilian and Tsarukyan in the past. He hasn’t faced former BMF champ Justin Gaethje, who is slated to lock horns with Dan Hooker in a five-round, co-main event at UFC 313 in March.

"I like this idea because I haven't fought Justin yet. If you look at the other options, I've already fought [Oliveira and Arman], and preparing for the same opponent is not such a big motivation,” Makhachev said. “But if Gaethje shows himself well in the next fight, we can meet."