Islam Makhachev Has Added 11 Pounds Of Muscle

There is little to no chance of Islam Makhachev (28-1) returning to lightweight as his long-time coach, Javier Mendez, said he has put on 11 pounds of muscle ahead of the defense of his welterweight championship against the challenger, Ian Machado Garry (17-1), on Saturday, August 15.

Makhachev joined the UFC in 2015 as a lightweight. Outside of a sole knockout loss to Adriano Martins, the 34-year-old defeated Arman Tsarukyan, Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski, and Dustin Poirier at 155 pounds. In 2025 he moved to welterweight for his debut at 170, and beat the champion, Jack Della Maddalena.

Mendez points to the muscle gains he’s made as evidence he’ll unlikely ever return to lightweight.

“He’s gained five kilos of muscle and feels better at welterweight. He prefers this weight class. I don’t think he’ll ever fight at lightweight.”

Though there are other challenges at welterweight for Makhachev, including bouts against Carlos Prates and Kamaru Usman, he has expressed interest in fighting at middleweight. If he were to ever win a championship at 185 pounds, he’d become the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion.