Islam Makhachev last defended his UFC lightweight title in January against Renato Moicano. His next defense date is currently uncertain. Diego Lima, who trains and manages 155-pound contender Charles Oliveira, believes Makhachev should either defend his belt or relinquish it.
Makhachev is reportedly waiting on the outcome of the UFC 315 welterweight fight on May 10 between champion Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena. If Maddalena secures the win, there`s speculation Makhachev could challenge for the 170-pound title.
Even when considering the situation from a neutral UFC perspective rather than just as Oliveira`s manager, Lima argues that establishing an interim championship is a logical step.
“If Makhachev decides to move up,” Lima stated, “he should lose the belt. Similar to [Ilia] Topuria, I believe the UFC will ask him to make a choice. If he opts to fight [at 170], they need to create an interim title. You cannot halt an entire division. Personally, I find it ridiculous to freeze a whole weight class.”
He continued, “When a fighter moves up a division, they must either vacate their current belt or an interim title must be established. If a fighter takes too long deciding their next step, it’s time for an interim belt. The division needs to progress. Fighters work incredibly hard to reach the belt, and once they get there, they shouldn`t just sit on it. That`s not how it should work.”
Following his victory over Michael Chandler in November, Oliveira`s initial plan was to serve as a potential backup for the planned January 18 bout between Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan. However, Lima claims the UFC informed them there would be no backup fighter. When Tsarukyan pulled out shortly before weigh-ins, Renato Moicano was moved from another bout to fight for the title.
“Do Bronx” began pushing for a rematch with Makhachev around late June, suggesting a headline spot for UFC`s traditional International Fight Week card in Las Vegas, or alternatively, a challenge for the BMF belt against Max Holloway. While Makhachev`s next step remains unknown, Holloway is now scheduled to face Dustin Poirier in what he calls his final MMA bout at UFC 318 on July 19.
The title picture becomes further complicated by Ilia Topuria, who vacated his featherweight title explicitly to pursue lightweight contention. Makhachev has publicly stated that Topuria should first earn his shot by defeating a ranked opponent at 155 pounds, while Oliveira has expressed interest in fighting Topuria, specifically for an interim championship.
Commenting on Topuria`s situation, Lima remarked, “I`m not Topuria`s manager, but if I were, I wouldn`t allow my fighter to vacate a belt and risk moving up without a clear objective or negotiation in place. I would only move up with a specific goal. I`m not sure if that`s what Topuria has done. There are many details we aren`t aware of yet.”
“Regarding Makhachev,” he continued, “he has repeatedly expressed his desire to move up. The obstacle between Charles and Makhachev is the belt, which is what we aim to win. However, reaching that point involves two uncertainties: first, the outcome of Belal`s fight, as we don`t know what happens if Belal wins or loses; and second, the nature of the negotiations Topuria had when he vacated his belt and moved up a division.”
