After the results of the last weekend, Islam Makhachev made a daring statement on social media after sketching his next step.
The lightweight champion claimed that he would not leave his lightweight title to go up a weight class.
It has now been confirmed that Makhachev de Riem has left behind with Ilia Topuria opposite Charles Oliveira for the empty title on UFC 317.
In the meantime, the former champion will be confronted with Jack della Maddalena after his victory at Belal Muhammad over UFC 315 with the matchup that takes place in the near future.
It has been said that the UFC is looking for the era of simultaneous two -woog champions and this seems to be the case after the big fights announced by Dana White.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Henry Cejudo says he is the last UFC champion camp now that Islam Makhachev has moved to Welterweight
Since the beginning of the year, both Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria have left their titles after they had committed themselves to the idea of going up a weight class to fight for a second belt.
Conor McGregor wrote UFC history in 2016 when he became the first hunter to hold titles in two divisions at the same time.
Then this became the new benchmark for hunters to strive for three others who reached the Champ camp status before the promotion began to fight this.
Although it is incredibly impressive to see a hunter conquering two divisions at the same time, many fans have called champions to stay in their respective weight classes where they can reach a great legacy by producing a dominant title line instead.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Together with Daniel Cormier and Amanda Nunes, Henry Cejudo was able to hold two belts after the flight weight champion went to Bantamweight.
He once defended both belts before taking a three -year interruption that saw him return to the Octagon in May 2023, where he was defeated by Aljamain Sterling.
Cejudo stated on social media that after the latest Makhachev update he will be the last of its kind now that the UFC does not want one hunter to be at the top of two divisions.
“With the Islam Makhachev who leaves his belt, I think I make the last hunter who is ever double champion. And I am Triple Champ.
With Islam Makhachev who leaves his belt, I think I make the last hunter who is once double champion. And I'm Triple Champ.
You're welcome #UFC317 😉
– Henry Cejudo (@henrycejudo) May 13, 2025
View tweet
Amanda Nunes was the only champion to hold both titles
One of the biggest problems with having one hunter with two belts is that both divisions will delay now that they share a champion.
Conor McGregor did not defend any of his belts, while Daniel Cormier and Henry Cejudo only fought at the weight class they moved to after winning a second title.
Amanda Nunes is the only champion that held both titles, which partly comes, that there was no stock of viable contenders for her to cope.
'The Lioness' was able to keep both bantamweight and featherweight busy, which is not something that Islam Makhachev could do at lightweight and welterweight.