Jul 28, 2018; Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Islam Makhachev (blue gloves) defeats Kajan Johnson (red gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

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Will Islam Makhachev And Weili Zhang Follow Ilia Topuria In UFC Two Division Championship Glory?

There’s something addictive about being a UFC champion that goes beyond just the money and fame. Once fighters taste that gold around their waist, many start eyeing the belt in the division above or below them. The idea of holding two belts simultaneously has become the ultimate flex in MMA, turning already elite fighters into legends who get their names etched in UFC history forever.

The pursuit of two division glory isn’t new, but 2025 has turned into the year where everyone wants to join this exclusive club. Fans have seen fighters like Conor McGregor and Amanda Nunes pull off this incredible feat in the past, creating moments that fans still talk about years later. Now they are seeing a new wave of champions who think they can follow in those legendary footsteps.

Ilia Topuria Started The Double Champ Trend For 2025

Ilia Topuria already showed everyone how it’s done this year. The Spanish-Georgian knockout artist vacated his featherweight belt and moved up to lightweight. There, he absolutely demolished Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. That victory didn’t just earn him a second belt, it proved that his incredible power and technique could translate to a heavier division. Topuria’s success opened the floodgates and apparently convinced other champions that moving up in weight class might be easier than they originally thought.

İLİA TOPURİA'NIN, CHARLES OLİVEİRA'YI NAKAVT ETTİĞİ ANIN YAVAŞ GÖRÜNTÜLERİ. 🔥🔥

BU ADAM SOĞUKKANLI BİR SERİ KATİL! 🥶 pic.twitter.com/VtKTvpYOt3
— CagePulseUFC (@Cage_PulseUFC) June 29, 2025

What made Topuria’s move so impressive was how he handled Oliveira. He didn’t just win, he dominated in a way that made it look effortless. His knockout power, which had already made him famous at featherweight, seemed even more devastating against lightweight competition. The victory brought the total number of UFC two-division champions to ten, and suddenly every champion started looking at the division above them with hungry eyes.

Islam Makhachev And Zhang Weili Look To Follow In Ilia Topuria’s Footsteps

UFC 322 in November could be historically significant if both main events go according to plan. Islam Makhachev, who gave up his lightweight title, will challenge Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight belt. Meanwhile, Zhang Weili vacated her strawweight championship to fight Valentina Shevchenko for the women’s flyweight title. Both fighters are betting their legacies on the belief that they can succeed at higher weight classes, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Makhachev’s move up to welterweight represents a massive challenge for the Dagestani grappling wizard. He’s spent his entire career dominating lightweights with his wrestling and ground game, but welterweights are naturally bigger and stronger. The size difference could neutralize some of his takedown advantages, especially against someone like Della Maddalena who has shown excellent takedown defense. If Makhachev wins, he joins an elite group of fighters who have conquered two divisions. If he loses, he gave up a belt he was dominating for nothing.

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Zhang Weili’s situation is equally fascinating. She’s moving up to challenge Shevchenko, arguably the second most dominant women’s flyweight champion in UFC history. Shevchenko has looked practically unbeatable at 125 pounds, using her striking, footwork, and fight IQ to outclass every challenger. Zhang brings incredible power and aggression from strawweight, but will those tools work against a bigger, more experienced opponent? A win would make her only the second woman in UFC history to hold titles in two weight classes, putting her name alongside Amanda Nunes in the record books.

If both Makhachev and Weili win their respective fights, the UFC would have twelve two-division champions in its history. That’s a remarkable jump from just nine at the beginning of 2025!

(Image Credit: Sergei Belski – Imagn Images)

Islam Makhachev

Jack Della Maddalena

UFC 322

Valentina Shevchenko

Zhang Weili

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!