After beating two UFC featherweight GOAT contenders in Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski, the Spanish-Georgian Ilia Topuria was insisted upon by the promotion that he vacate his featherweight title if he wanted to move up in divisions and challenge for the lightweight title. While his dreams have been put on hold, the lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, is also planning for a shot at the welterweight title. Although he has no problems with Makhachev moving up in weight, former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier feels Makhachev should be treated the same way as Topuria was.

While talking to MMAJunkie, ‘The Diamond’ reminded everyone that the same reason that led to Topuria vacating the title applies to Makhachev if he plans to move up. Poirier said: “They made Ilia drop the belt. So if he’s [Islam] going to go up, maybe make him drop the belt and make an undisputed fight with the next two guys. And who’s there? I don’t know if they’re going to give Arman the shot, which he earned, but then he pulled out, so I don’t know what’s going on with that stuff. Oliveira is still there, I don’t think it’s going to be interim, I think if Islam does move up, he’s going to have to vacate, yeah.”

Making his future fight predictions for the lightweight division, Poirier did not forget to take a shot at his past rival. With a strong emphasis on Makhachev vacating the title if he moves up, ‘The Diamond’ has created a strong debate, and with a debate, has caused a split in the MMA community on whether Makhachev should get a welterweight title shot or not—all on the heels of Topuria vacating his belt.

The pressure is on Makhachev for sure as he finds himself in the middle of this lightweight conundrum. However, the lightweight GOAT Khabib Nurmagomedov came to the rescue of his protegé, standing his ground while defending his brother and teammate.

Khabib Nurmagomedov takes a stand for Islam Makhachev over UFC welterweight title shot

As Dustin Poirier made his case for Makhachev to vacate his title, Khabib chose to bring a rather strong case as to why the lightweight champion not only deserves a shot at the welterweight gold but also carries a much different status. As many of the MMA community are keenly looking for a clash of Ilia Topuria against Makhachev, Khabib broke into many angles to show us why the two titans, although great, are on different levels.

“I think they’d give it to him right away. Because the UFC really wants Islam to fight for the title immediately. After all, Islam has the longest winning streak in the UFC right now. And Islam has quite a strong resume, Topuria has only been in the UFC for a couple years. He has like 6–7 fights, Islam has 16 or 17, I think. And Islam’s resume is quite impressive.”, ‘The Eagle’ said to MMA journalist Adam Zubayraev.

He further added, “His background as Americans say, big background, right? So basically, they want to take everything Islam has accumulated over these years. 10 years in the UFC. They want to put it all on the line. But Islam won’t put everything he has on the line, because of someone who just recently won two big fights last year. Let him go through the same path. It’s not a problem.”

Nurmagomedov is ready for Topuria to take his best shot at Makhachev, but he also wants Topuria to earn this shot as many have before him. Islam’s resume stands unmatched inside and outside of his division, he has dominated every opponent—mostly easy wins. With a gigantic fifteen-fight win streak and four title defenses, Islam Makhachev is on his way to be considered as the next greatest fighter in MMA, following his mentor, Khabib’s path.

Khabib envisions Islam Makhachev’s future plans. Will a new era in the UFC’s 155-pound division?

While Khabib sent a clear message with his words, he also made sure the world holds its horses and wait for what’s next. With Belal Muhammad as the UFC welterweight champion, Khabib has denied any chances of Makhachev’s potential fight with Muhammad. While discussing the close relation with ‘Remember the Name’, Khabib said: “Well, Islam wants to move up to 170. But we can’t fight there. Because Belal is there. He’s a close friend to us. That’s why we can’t. We put relationships above titles. That’s just not how we do things.” But that can all change after UFC 315 where Belal Muhammad will face Jack Della Maddalena.

With a potential fight ready at welterweight, lightweights may get a chance to beat through their opponents and sit at a vacant throne. UFC’s lightweight division is flourishing right now, a new emerging hero in Paddy Pimblett‘s name is now on everyone’s mouth, and veterans already matching him up against the likes of Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje and even Arman Tsarukyan. One may say a title eliminator tournament between the four can give us a future lightweight champion.

With that in mind, Islam’s welterweight title shot seems very likely—it will come sooner rather than later. If that happens—if Makhachev vacates the lightweight title, who do you think will take-over the lightweight throne of the UFC? Let us know in the comments.