Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping wants Islam Makhachev to get a shot at a third UFC title, and he likes the sound of it happening at 185 pounds.
Speaking on his podcast, the Brit laid out the route: beat the winner of Carlos Prates vs. Michael Morales at welterweight, then move up and try to become the first three-division champion in UFC history.
“Let’s say he beats the winner of Prates vs. Morales, ok? So then he has got two defenses at welterweight, four defenses at lightweight. Then moving up to 185 and trying to become the triple champ, I like the sound of that. And if anyone deserves it, it is Islam Makhachev.”
Bisping also brought up Alex Pereira, and how the UFC allowed the Brazilian to fight in the heavyweight division:
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“Remember, Alex Pereira was just granted that opportunity to go up to heavyweight and fight Ciryl Gane. Obviously, it didn’t go his way and fair play, he’s taken on a very dangerous fight in Sergei Pavlovich. If he wins he might find himself back in the same scenario, but you can’t say Islam Makhachev hasn’t earned that opportunity.”
Check out Michael Bisping‘s comments below:
Ciryl Gane defeated Pereira at UFC Freedom 250, which came as a bit of a setback for the Brazilian. However, he faces a tough test in Sergei Pavlovich, and a win over the Russian should bring him back for a shot at heavyweight gold.
The numbers support Bisping’s claims. Makhachev defended the lightweight belt four times, the most in division history, before taking the welterweight title from Jack Della Maddalena in November 2025. A unanimous decision over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330 in August gave him a first defense at 170 and a 17th straight win, one past Anderson Silva’s UFC record.
Islam Makhachev says his next fight is one of the last of his career
That route now comes with a tighter timeline. Islam Makhachev, wrote on X on Friday:
“My next fight is one of the last in my career. They say Prates is too dangerous for me and Morales is too good for me. So I want to face the best of them and prove to the world once again who is the best in world.”
It followed weeks of criticism over his schedule. Makhachev was slated to defend against Prates at UFC 336 in Toronto but chose to wait until after Ramadan, so the UFC booked Prates and Morales for the interim welterweight title instead.
Edited by Saiyed Adeem Karim
