Many fans are pleased to see what Islam Makhachev looks like as a good weight.
Makhachev has left its lightweight title, which Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira will fight on UFC 317, to challenge for the belt in the weight class above.
While the pound-for-pound has been number one dominant with 155 pounds, Jack della Maddalena is a threat at 170.
Daniel Cormier suggested that Makhachev should work on his wrestling, despite the fact that this is his strongest skills, according to Della Maddalena's impressive victory over Belal Muhammad.
A welterweight candidate, who has trained in the past with the former lightweight champion, is of the opinion that this will not be a problem for Makhachev, but perhaps another area.
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Vicente Luque says that power will be the biggest challenge for Islam Makhachev at Welterweight
Vicente Luque believes that the biggest challenge with which Islam Makhachev will be confronted in moving up to 170 pounds is the difference in power.
The 22-Fight UFC veteran has trained in the past with the former lightweight champion and is a staple of the Welterweight Division of the promotion.
Some fighters and analysts have suggested that Makhachev might be even better in a higher weight class now that he will not cut that much weight to compete with 155 pounds.
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Although he may not have a big advantage over his opponents in Welterweight, Luque does not expect that this is a major problem for the Russian when it comes to the grip fairs.
He told Inside Fighting that Makhachev is a very physically strong grappler, but the big advantage can work against him when it comes to striking.
The pound-for-pound number one is not known as a particularly powerful striker and this can be emphasized when it competes with larger opponents.
“I don't think he is struggling with the gripping aspect of power for grabbing. He has a lot of power for that. He has good conditioning. Of course we are welter weights, we hit hard, especially boys like me, like Jack. Guys who are strikers, we think very hard. So I think it's very hard.
Vicente Luque compares the Welterweight switch of Islam Makhachev with Gilbert Burns
Vicente Luque stated that although he could feel how strong Islam Makhachev was when they trained together, it still felt like he was struggling with a lightweight.
However, he further said that he does not believe that this will be something that stops him against the good weight, because he will be able to put more emphasis in his strength.
Luque then pulled parallels between Makhachev and Gilbert Burns, who also trained with Luque as a lightweight before moving to 170 pounds where he found every success.
'I've always told him [Burns]”Hey, you have to go up because you are very strong.” Once he went up, he was much stronger because he could really do that weight. He could work differently, work more on his strength. So that's what I see in Makhachev. “