Makhachev Names Fights He’d Rather Avoid
Islam Makhachev named Belal Muhammad and Shavkat Rakhmonov as two welterweights he would prefer not to fight, explaining that both are world-class and that he knows them well.
At a January 15, 2025 media day, the lightweight champion was asked about a possible move up to welterweight. “These are not the fights I would like, for sure — both Belal Muhammad and Shavkat Rakhmonov,” he said, calling them world-class fighters. His answer described the difficult matchups he might face if he changed divisions; it was not a claim that he planned to avoid challengers in his own division. The original interview report gives the full context.
Arman Tsarukyan withdrew with a back injury, and Renato Moicano replaced him on short notice. Makhachev submitted Moicano with a D’Arce choke at 4:05 of the first round on January 18. The official card update documents the replacement, and the official results record the finish.
Makhachev later moved to welterweight and defeated Jack Della Maddalena by unanimous decision on November 15, 2025, to win that division’s title, according to the official report on his title win. He defended it against Ian Machado Garry on August 15, 2026, winning another unanimous decision. The official results from his latest bout list scores of 49–46, 49–46 and 48–47.
Sources
Tags: MMA
