Almost a year later: Why did UFC star Makhachev take so long to return to the Octagon?

Almost a year after making history, Islam Makhachev is back. The Russian fighter captured the lightweight title in January and spent months weighing his next move. Moving up to welterweight seemed like the logical step – but there was one problem. At the time, his close friend Belal Muhammad held the 170-pound crown, and Makhachev had no interest in fighting him. Once Muhammad lost the belt, the path was clear.

Now, Makhachev will make his welterweight debut on Saturday night, against Jack Della Maddalena at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Makhachev bides his time

Back in January, Arman Tsarukyan – then the No. 1 contender at lightweight – was slated for a blockbuster rematch to kick off UFC’s 2025 calendar. But a back injury forced him out just days before the fight. Renato Moicano stepped in, only to be submitted in the first round by Makhachev. That victory marked Islam’s fifth successful title defense, cementing his status as one of the greatest champions in lightweight history.

Makhachev has always been a big lightweight, and making the 155-pound limit became increasingly grueling. Fans saw him looking completely drained at weigh-ins. A move up was inevitable, but welterweight wasn’t an option while Muhammad reigned. Belal is a close friend of the Nurmagomedov camp – they’ve trained together multiple times and share a strong bond. Neither man wanted that fight.

So Makhachev waited. Muhammad defended his title against Della Maddalena in May. If Belal won, Islam would stay at lightweight for another defense, with Ilia Topuria looming as a potential challenger. But when the Australian dethroned Muhammad, Makhachev decided it was time to chase a second belt.

He had to wait several months for Della Maddalena to recover and prepare for his first defense. That layoff means Makhachev hasn’t fought in 10 months, but he looks better than ever. He’s added size, reportedly using creatine and building muscle mass. Far from undersized for the division – as some critics predicted – he looks huge. Now, the stage is set for Makhachev’s return and his shot at becoming a two-division champion.

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