Maxachev: Strikers are more dangerous in the welterweight division

Welterweight (77 kg) champion Islam Makhachev, when sharing his thoughts about potential super-fights, emphasized that he feels very comfortable in this weight class. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

In particular, regarding a possible fight with lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, Makhachev openly stated that he has no concerns. According to Makhachev, the most dangerous opponents in the 77-kilogram division are fighters with powerful strikes who have the ability to knock out their opponent with a single blow.

At this point, he specifically mentioned Michael Morales and assessed his strikes as quite dangerous. Makhachev emphasized that even a small mistake in this weight class can be costly.

Addressing the Ilia Topuria issue, Makhachev said that Topuria cannot pose as strong a threat in the welterweight division as he does in the lightweight division. The main reason is that with the change in weight, opponents’ physical characteristics, distance, and power differ.

According to Makhachev, even if Topuria moves up to this weight class, he will not pose a significant threat due to his smaller height and weight. It is worth recalling that Islam Makhachev won the welterweight championship belt by defeating Australian Jack Della Maddalena by a unanimous decision at the “UFC 322” event.

Now the main question is: against whom will Makhachev defend his belt — against powerful strikers or will he participate in highly anticipated super-fights? In conclusion, according to Makhachev, in the 77-kilogram division, it is not the “name” but the opponent’s striking power that poses a greater danger.

However, the outcome of the fight will, of course, be decided in the octagon with fists and skill.