Islam Makhachev gets wake up call after UFC 330: "I still have to gain some weight"
After a tough night, Islam Makhachev has revealed that his post-UFC 330 plans include bulking up even more as he continues his welterweight title reign.
Islam Makhachev had one of the most difficult fights of his career at UFC 330. Ian Machado Garry proved to be trickier and more resilient than expected, dragging the welterweight champion to a hard-fought five rounds. In the end, Makhachev won via unanimous decision, but the fight gave him the realization that he may need more size at welterweight.
Islam Makhachev wants more power
Islam Makhachev is often regarded as one of the strongest fighters in the lighter divisions. This was true at lightweight, where he outmuscled most of his opponents, with the exception of rare cases like Arman Tsarukyan and Alexander Volkanovski, both of whom proved to be more than a match for his physicality at UFC Fight Night 149 and UFC 284 respectively. Makhachev defeated both men via unanimous decision, but now after his first welterweight title defense, he feels that he will need to add even more muscle mass to his frame, saying as much at the UFC 330 post-fight press conference (2:51):
"Hard fight. It makes you improve. I feel improved, you now? I still have to gain some weight, try to be more big, more power, you know, and I have time, you know? What this fight show me and show everybody, it's not my like my hardest fight, you know? Doesn't matter how each fight is gonna go. Easy or hard, from the first minute to last minute to last second, I'm going to war. I'm gonna fight every second."
While Makhachev's skill are what ultimately pay the bills, he is right to consider gaining more size as he continues his championship run at welterweight. The title challengers awaiting him all, for the most part, have taller and longer builds than him. Carlos Prates, a streaking power-puncher with exceptional Muay Thai, is taller than him by several inches at 6 feet 1 inch in height. Similarly, Michael Morales is 6 feet tall and also has dynamite in his hands, as well as the momentum of an unbeaten record. He also cut from over 200 pounds to make weight as the backup fighter for the UFC 330 main event, so Makhachev will have his hands full.
TITLE DEFENDED 😤@MAKHACHEVMMA takes the Unanimous Decision over Ian Machado Garry at #UFC330! pic.twitter.com/8CR80dYuAM
— UFC (@ufc) August 16, 2026
Who is up as his next title challenger will be for the UFC to decide, but Makhachev will hope that his future fights won't be as difficult as the Garry matchup proved to be.
