Recent news from Islam Makhachev’s camp has rocked the UFC middleweight division. The UFC lightweight champion has often hinted at moving up the weight classes, with his sights set on the welterweight division. However, the Dagestani warrior’s ambition doesn’t seem to stop. Makhachev coach Javier Mendez recently announced that the team is considering making the jump to middleweight. The revelation caused reactions throughout the MMA community, especially middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis.
Du Plessis mocks Makhachev’s middleweight ambitions
When Makhachev’s plans to move up to middleweight were made public, du Plessis didn’t hold out. The South African fighter, who is set to face former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, dismissed the idea of challenging Makhachev for the middleweight title as nothing more than fantasy. Du Plessis said, “Yeah, I mean what can I say? I mean, that just sounds like it – but I mean, yeah, anyone can dream, right? I always say never hide your dreams and, you know, also dream big, but he’s dreaming really big. I’m so big.”
On August 9, Mendez joined the ‘Submission Radio’ podcast, where he was asked about the possibility of Makhachev going up against du Plessis if the lightweight champion successfully reached the weight requirement, Mendez expressed confidence in Makhachev authoritatively, “It would be really good because I mean there is the Fact that he is, you know, a leader. He’s got good standup, he’s got good ground, and it’s going to be one of those situations where there’s going to be a fight on all fields. Of course, you know. There will be war everywhere.”
As du Plessis prepares to face Israel Adesanya in a highly anticipated fight at UFC 305, Mendez does not rule out the possibility of Makhachev facing Adesanya if the latter regains the middleweight title.
Acquisition: A daunting challenge
Israel Adesanya’s journey to becoming a two-time middleweight champion is nothing short of amazing. His rhythmic skills and triangular presence earned him a reputation as one of the sport’s most dangerous fighters. Mendez welcomed the challenge Adesanya would present to Makhachev, saying, “You know, if he [du Plessis] loses the title ‘Izzy’, which he could very well, you know we have to fight ‘Izzy’, . Now this will be a different fight. It would be to get ‘Izzy’ down instead of standup, because I mean, you know, it’s not easy to go out there and try to fight somebody with that kind of kickboxing pedigree, you know. It’s a tough, tough thing to do with a great fighter like ‘Izzy’.”
A potential clash between Makhachev and Adesanya would certainly be an interesting encounter, pitting Makhachev’s grappling, ground game against Adesanya’s striking prowess but what about the ongoing tension between Makhachev and du Plessis?
The growing rivalry between Makhachev and du Plessis
Tensions between Islam Makhachev and Dricus du Plessis continue to build. In a recent interview with Red Corner MMA, Javier Mendez revealed that Makhachev is serious about bulking up and moving up to the middleweight division. Mendez’s confidence in Makhachev’s skills is unwavering, especially considering Makhachev’s current status as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC
However, du Plessis remains skeptical. He believes Makhachev’s ambition to challenge for the middleweight title is nothing more than a pipe dream. However, the Makhachev camp appears to have come true, and Mendez outlined some of the strategies to counter du Plessis.
