Islam Makhachev and the challenge of fighting in a heavier division
Islam Makhachev didn't have the dominant outing he was hoping for at UFC 330, where his performance served as the latest reminder of how tough moving up in weight is.
Islam Makhachev made his first successful welterweight title defense at UFC 330. However, the win over Ian Machado Garry was much harder than expected. In fact, it was one of his toughest-ever fights. Part of it was due to Garry's skill, but the other part of it was the sheer physicality of welterweights compared to the lightweights that Makhachev is used to outmuscling, and the truth is that he isn't the only fighter to realize this.
Islam Makhachev struggled to impose himself at UFC 330
There is no denying that Islam Makhachev is one of the greatest fighters of all time. After UFC 330, where he defeated Ian Machado Garry via unanimous decision, he brought himself one step closer to being recognized as the MMA GOAT. However, the fight wasn't a typical Makhachev affair, where he completely outwrestles and outgrapples his opponent, outmuscling them with a size and strength advantage he enjoys over most fighters. Instead, Makahchev struggled more than he usually does and even spoke about needing to add more size to his frame at the post-fight press conference. The welterweights, he has learned, are much harder to control than lightweights.
Even the UFC 322 win over Jack Della Maddalena, while dominant, was a much safer performance than usual, going to a unanimous decision, despite the fact that Makhachev had been a consistent finisher prior. Outside of physical outliers like Arman Tsarukyan and Alexander Volkanovski, who were both strong enough to match Makahchev's physicality at UFC Fight Night 149 and UFC 284 respectively, with Makahchev beating both via unanimous decision, hardly anyone at lightweight had managed to make him struggle as much with his wrestling as Garry did at welterweight.
"Ian is great fighter, good man, and I just respect him. He gave me hard time, but I still prove every fight."
However, it's not an experience that's unique to Makahchev, as other high-level fighters have also struggled with the greater physicality of heavier weight classes.
Islam gives a ton of respect to Ian Machado Garry
— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) August 16, 2026
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After knocking out Charles Oliveira in round one at UFC 317, Ilia Topuria enthroned himself as the lightweight champion. Unfortunately for him, he couldn't do the same to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250, where his usual strategy of walking his opponent down wasn't as effective against a bigger, heavier puncher than he's used to. In the end, Topuria lost via fourth-round TKO after taking a tremendous beating. On the same card, in the co-main event, Alex Pereira also struggled greatly with Ciryl Gane's physicality in his attempt at becoming the first-ever three-division UFC champion. Gane, who isn't known for his punching power, dropped Pereira with a jab in round two before TKO'ing him. It was a finishing sequence helped by his size advantage over 'Poatan.'
The days of Makhachev effortlessly running through his opponents are over. At welterweight, he will continue to encounter the same problem that most fighters do when they move up in weight and fight bigger, stronger fighters. It is up to him to adjust and come to terms with the fact that his strength and size won't be difference makers anymore.
