DC Cautions Islam Makhachev: 185lbs is Too Big, Welterweight is His Limit
Danil Cormier believes Islam Makhachev is at his limit at 170lbs and he simply won't be able to move up in weight to compete at 185.
Islam Makhachev has conquered weight classes and solidified his position atop the pound-for-pound rankings, but former two-division champion Daniel Cormier believes there is a hard ceiling to how far the Dagestani superstar can stretch his frame. While chatter occasionally surfaces about Makhachev potentially chasing a third belt at middleweight, DC insists that 170 pounds is his absolute limit.
According to Cormier, taking on 185-pounders would be pushing the physical limits of combat sports too far for the current champ.
"Like Islam, 170 is as high as he can go," Cormier explained. "There was talk a while ago of Islam going to 185, he can't go to 185, he's too small. Islam used 100% of what he was in that last fight to beat Ian Garry, because Ian Garry is so big. And then the next guy he's gonna fight, he's gonna have to use 100% of who he is to beat that person, because they're just big, and size does matter in any combat sport."
The Reality of Weight Classes
Cormier’s assessment carries serious weight given his background. Beyond holding UFC titles at both light heavyweight and heavyweight, DC spent years training side-by-side with Makhachev at the American Kickboxing Academy. While the two regularly exchange playful banter on social media, with Makhachev often poking fun at DC's record, Cormier's analysis of frame match-ups comes from direct experience.
Makhachev holds an incredible 29-1 professional record built on world-class Combat SAMBO, suffocating grappling, and sharp striking. However, moving up to welterweight already forced him to dig deep against rangy, physically imposing opponents like Ian Machado Garry. Stepping up another 15 pounds into a middleweight division filled with fighters who cut down from well over 200 pounds would eliminate the structural leverage that makes Makhachev's wrestling so dominant.
At 170 pounds, Makhachev remains a terrifying force. But as far as DC is concerned, staying under the 185-pound threshold is the smartest move for his long-term career.
