Belal Muhammad becoming the welterweight champion on UFC 304 has ruined Islam Makhachev‘s plans. Don’t get us wrong, Muhammad and lightweight champion Makhachev consider each other brothers and the Dagestani was elated at seeing ‘Bully B’ shock the world and dominate Leon Edwards on their title card in Manchester, England last month.

However, the lightweight champ has been desperately looking to move up and fight for a second title at 170, pretty much since he became the 155-pound king in 2022. But now that Muhammad is the champ, Makhachev will no longer be fighting at welterweight. As long as Muhammad is the champion, at least.

But, there are other, albeit more difficult paths that the Dagestani could use to scratch his two-division itch. Belal Muhammad himself had suggested that maybe Makhachev could skip welterweight altogether and move up to the 185-pound middleweight division. This idea has been seconded by the Dagestani’s coach, Javier Mendez, who claimed in a recent interview that “maybe Islam gains weight and goes to 185.”

Well, Mendez might want Makhachev to fight in the middleweight division, but the reigning middleweight champ, Dricus Du Plessis doesn’t seem to believe that the Dagestani can strip him of his title.

“He’s dreaming real big. I’m very big. … I completely understand going up to another division and fighting for another belt because there comes a stage where it makes sense. I’m not the one who’s going to say no,” ‘DDP’ said on being asked about a possible Makhachev bout. Now, fans have a lot to say about that on social media.

Fans react to Islam Makhachev coach suggesting 185-pound title clash

One fan was sure that a fighter moving up two divisions to take on the champion there would be so scandalous and outrageous that it “would break MMA.” Another fan felt that the fans who are writing Makhachev off in a potential middleweight bout because of his purported size are forgetting one thing: “Islam is bigger than Belal btw.”

One netizen was all in favor of Islam fighting at middleweight, and felt it would give the fans an idea of how skilled and gifted he really is: “Boost Islam’s ego and let him fight in middleweight…we needed to see how capable he is.”Another X user made the eyebrow-raising declaration that while Makhachev certainly had the skills and mental strength to deal with any middleweight in the world, his size would ultimately let him down. “Skill-wise Islam beats all the MWs it’s one of the least skilled divisions..however, there is a reason for weight classes,” the X user wrote.

One fan felt that since Dustin Poirier was able to take Makhachev to the fifth round at their UFC 302 clash, he probably wouldn’t be able to hold his own against ‘DDP’: “He almost died against Poirer his face will be even more open against du Plessis,” the fan completely dismissed Makhachev’s chances against the South African fighter.

What are your thoughts on Islam Makhachev potentially moving up to middleweight? Share your thoughts in the comments below.