Former UFC interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier recently shared his thoughts on the likelihood of Islam Makhachev making a return to the 155-pound lightweight division, highlighting the significant physical hurdles such a move would entail.
Poirier delved into the challenges Makhachev would face, stating, “Everything will depend on whether he wins or loses… He was already a big fighter for lightweight. And getting the chance to bulk up, gain muscle mass and let his body move where it wants… returning to 70 kg will take time, in my opinion.”
He further elaborated on the physical toll, adding, “He will have to cut calories and lose the muscle mass he gains. I know it’s a fact, it’s not easy for him to fit into 70 kg, and it will become even more difficult now… Yes, for him, it might be the end in lightweight, too much strain for his body. He is not a small guy.”
Poirier`s insights suggest that after gaining significant muscle mass, the process of cutting weight back down to 70 kg (approximately 155 lbs) would be an arduous and potentially unsustainable endeavor for Makhachev, possibly signaling a permanent shift for the fighter from the lightweight category.
