After securing his first welterweight title defense last weekend, there are many options in mind for Islam Makhachev, and Joe Rogan for one thinks he should consider moving back to the lightweight division.
Makhachev stepped away from the 155-pound division as the reining champion in May 2025, with four dominant defenses behind him. In his welterweight debut later that year, the Russian secured the 170-pound title with a one sided victory over Jack Della Maddalena.
This past weekend at UFC 330, Makhachev followed up becoming a two-division champion by outworking Ian Machado Garry over the course of five rounds. Despite the clear victory for the champion, Garry was able to keep the fight competitive, with many believing Makhachev was unable to finish the challenger because of the size and power difference that comes along with the change in weight class.
Joe Rogan, who commentated UFC 330 in Philadelphia last weekend, feels that the best move for Makhachev at this point is to move back down to 155-pounds, where he was able to register finish after finish and truly dominate in each outing.
😳🤔 Joe Rogan suggests that if he was in Islam Makhachev’s corner he’d be considering a move back down to lightweight, due to Islam’s dominant finishes in that division compared to welterweight
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) August 18, 2026
“Look at what he did to Dustin Poirier, look at what he did to Charles Oliveira.…
“Look at what he did to Dustin Poirier, look at what he did to Charles Oliveira. Just crushes them. This is the difference between him at 155 and him at 170.”
“I understand what he wants to do, but if I was in his corner I’d be like ‘Maybe we should move back down.'”