Ali Abdel-Aziz, the manager for UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, has shed light on the potential reasons behind his client`s consideration of a move to the welterweight division.
Abdel-Aziz expressed confidence, stating, “I think Islam will be even better at welterweight than at lightweight.” He elaborated that competing at a higher weight class could improve Islam`s mood and allow for more intense training sessions. He drew a comparison to Ilia Topuria`s situation, who moved up from featherweight reportedly due to difficulties with weight cutting, highlighting that Makhachev does not face similar issues at lightweight. According to Abdel-Aziz, this potential divisional shift is driven by Islam`s ambition to achieve greatness.
Discussing potential high-profile matchups, Abdel-Aziz commented on Conor McGregor: “I despise Conor McGregor, but he was a star at his peak. And for a fight with him, Makhachev would have stayed in lightweight.” However, he contrasted this with Topuria, who he feels “is not a superstar” in the same vein. Consequently, the focus for Islam is squarely on moving forward and becoming a double champion – a goal Abdel-Aziz also hopes Ilia Topuria can achieve. He concluded his interview with ESPN by noting the uncertainty of what lies ahead after potentially securing a second title.
Tristan Blackwood