Diego Lima, manager of former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, recently offered his perspective on the possibility of current lightweight king Islam Makhachev moving up to the welterweight division.
According to Lima, if Makhachev decides to compete at 170 pounds, he would inevitably lose his lightweight title. He believes the UFC would require Makhachev to commit to one division, drawing a parallel to how the promotion might have approached Ilia Topuria regarding multi-divisional aspirations.
Lima stated that should Makhachev fight at welterweight, the UFC would be obligated to introduce an interim lightweight championship. He strongly feels that pausing an entire division while its champion explores another weight class is “absurd.”
He asserted that whenever a fighter moves up in weight, they must either relinquish their existing title or an interim belt must be established to keep the division active and moving forward.
Tristan Blackwood