Islam Makhachev has to pivot his long-term plans after UFC 304.

The reigning lightweight champion and pound-for-pound great has made it clear he hopes to one day become a two-division champion. The timeline for when Makhachev would attempt that goal has always been up in the air but racking up title defense always seemed like priority No. 1.

At UFC 304 last month, Makhachev’s friend and training partner Belal Muhammad dethroned Leon Edwards by unanimous decision in their main event title fight rematch. The result was one the two noted ahead of time would not lead to them ever fighting. An Edwards win would have been a different story, but despite the change, there’s still a chance Makhachev goes for a second divisional title with Muhammad as champion, according to coach Javier Mendez.

It just wouldn’t be at welterweight.

“That’s a good reason to fight Arman [Tsarukyan] or anybody else [at lightweight] and you get the most defenses in the lightweight history,” Mendez told Red Corner MMA. “I can’t believe three is the record (laughs). That’s just amazing how it turns over. So many fighters have won titles there but they never kept it more than three title defenses so Islam will break a record, and I want to see him go down as one of the greatest of all time and I believe he’s on track to do that. So, him defending that lightweight title is on track for that. Then after that, let’s see what happens.

“Maybe Islam gains weight and goes 185. I mean, he’d have to gain weight, obviously, because that’s a little big for him. You never know. He’s that good. Pound-for-pound No. 1 for a reason.”

Mendez planting that seed comes directly before the next UFC middleweight title fight when the champion Dricus du Plessis makes his first defense against his rival and former two-time champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 next Saturday. Imagining Makhachev against either seems like something straight out of an EA UFC video game. However, stylistically, either matchup would be pretty compelling.

First thing’s first, and that’s Tsarukyan as Mendez mentioned. The top lightweight contender will likely challenge Makhachev in a rematch before 2024 ends, it’s just a matter of when. After Tsarukyan gets his anti-bullying PSA finished, and Makhachev heals up from some recent injuries, they can fight, and start pondering the more unique journeys down roads less traveled if victorious.

“The welterweight fight won’t happen, that would have been my first choice,” Mendez said. “The next choice is the obvious Arman. He has to get rid of Arman. That’s what I feel the fans are gonna want to see and I want to prove that he’s pound-for-pound No. 1, but for Islam, he’s already beat Arman, so for him, I would think Max Holloway would be an interesting fight for him. [Mateusz] Gamrot also. Let’s see what the UFC offers.

“I know this: Islam has never refused an opponent the UFC offered him. He may refuse the date for whatever particular reason. Like now is his ligament injury he’s got in his hand so he’s not fighting when they would want him to fight, because he’s got to take care of his body first. That’s priority.”