Wrestle World - UFC analyst doesn't care to see Islam Makhachev at 185 pounds

Islam Makhachev wants multi-division UFC championship glory, but analyst Alan Jouban would prefer to see him stick in his own lane.

After setting the record for consecutive lightweight title defenses with a first-round submission of Renato Moicano at UFC 311 this month, Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) reiterated that he’s not going to leave the sport without a second title.

What that second weight class would be remains to be seen, but with a lack of desire to face current welterweight champ Belal Muhammad, Makhachev said he would accept a chance to face middleweight kingpin Dricus Du Plessis if it was offered.

Over the past decade, reigning champions pursuing additional divisional titles has become commonplace. Some have successfully pulled it off, while others have failed. There seems to be a perception that capturing belts in multiple weight classes is the ultimate legacy-enhancer, but for UFC and ESPN analyst Jouban, it doesn’t exceed the value of being a dominant and long-reigning titleholder.

“I don’t need to see it,” Jouban told MMA Junkie of Makhachev competing at middleweight. “I like to see guys at their weight do dominant things and set records. That’s when we talk about greatness. Do I take it seriously? Yeah. I take it seriously. I think he actually feels that’s what he wants to do. Has he earned it? Yeah. He set the record with four title defenses.

“Obviously if Islam goes up to 185, he wants to win, but if he doesn’t win he can say, ‘So what? I’m still the lightweight champion. I still have the belt so I’ve got nothing to lose.’ That’s why I don’t like these double champs. It’s one thing if he goes up to 170, but to go up two weight classes is unreasonable. He’s got nothing to lose. I need to have something at stake in these fights. And there’s nothing at stake if he goes and loses and comes back down and defends his belt and is putting the division on hold.”

Although Makhachev, No. 3 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie pound-for-pound rankings, has separated himself as the most decorated champ in 155-pound history, Jouban doesn’t feel he’s cleared the list of contenders to the point where moving up in weight is the only option.

Makhachev was supposed to rematch Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311 before the challenger pulled out on weigh-in day due to a back issue. UFC CEO Dana White said in the aftermath of the event that Tsarukyan will have to win at least one more fight to re-earn the opportunity for a crack at gold, but if Jouban was able to make the call, he thinks that fight remains as the biggest threat to Makhachev’s historic reign.

“Arman is the guy, in my case, that sets him apart from Khabib (as the lightweight GOAT),” Jouban said. “That’s what sets the record. That’s the one guy in the division where there’s the question mark of, ‘Can you beat this guy? Can you beat a guy that’s equivalent to you in the grappling?’ That can change things.”

“I think he’s going to be champion for a while. The toughest test that the division has against him I believe, as much as I love Charles Oliveira, I just don’t think his grappling is as strong as Islam’s. I hope he stays in the division, though. I hope he stays in the division and sets record. We’re talking about him going up, what’s he going to do? He’s not going to fight Belal (Muhammad at welterweight), so he’s going to skip to 185? I don’t want to see that.”

Check out the video above as Jouban and MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn discuss Makhachev’s place among the greatest lightweight champs in history on “The Bohnfire” podcast.