The Lightweight King Faces a Crossroads to Open the New Year
Islam Makhachev has established himself as one of the most talented fighters of all time in the UFC. The protege to former Lightweight Division champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has risen through two divisions with ease. His methodical and highly effective blend of wrestling, sambo, and striking is elite. However, some fans were worried after he denied an offer to defend his title in January at UFC 324. This decision is tactical and not the result of injury or fear of losing the belt.
Islam captured the Lightweight belt and defended it multiple times. After solidifying himself as one of the greatest Lightweight’s in UFC history, he made a bold move. In November of 2025, he shocked the UFC world and fought by defeating Jack Della Madelena to claim the Welterweight championship. This made him the 11th fighter to be a two-division champion, adding another monumental moment to his career. Expectations were high that he would defend this title early in 2026. However, Islam has declined the offer for valid reasons. The turnaround time was not long enough, as Islam felt the camp would be too much. His training for Madelena was grueling, and hopping into another tough camp would not be ideal. Although there was no announcement of an opponent, there was much speculation that it would be Michael Morales. Now, the UFC has moved the main event to be the interim Lightweight title fight between Paddy Pimplett and Justin Gaethje. Makhachev believes a more realistic time for him to take a fight would be between April and June, giving him the right amount of time he needs to prepare.
Islam’s decline does not signal injury or retreat, but more of a strategic move in his gameplan. The 34-year-old remains one of the most talented fighters in the UFC, so he is in no rush to prove anything more. Working to get back to his peak shape will make his next moves much more dominant. There is much more left in the tank for Islam, and it seems like there is no quit coming soon. It will be exciting to see who takes on the challenge next.
