{"id":55917,"date":"2025-05-22T15:06:42","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T14:06:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/?p=55917"},"modified":"2025-05-22T15:06:46","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T14:06:46","slug":"charles-oliveira-revels-the-real-reason-behind-makhachevs-move-up-to-welterweight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theplayoffs.news\/en\/charles-oliveira-revels-the-real-reason-behind-makhachevs-move-up-to-welterweight\/","title":{"rendered":"Charles Oliveira Revels The Real Reason Behind Makhachev\u2019s Move Up To Welterweight"},"content":{"rendered":"

The UFC lightweight division just got turned upside down. Islam Makhachev shocked everyone by vacating his 155-pound title and moving up to welterweight. Everyone started asking questions. Was he running from tough competition (especially Ilia Topuria)? Did he see an easier path at 170 pounds? Charles Oliveira thinks he knows the real answer, and it’s simpler than most people realize.<\/p>

Makhachev had to climb through a brutal division filled with killers. The Dagestani fighter finally got his shot against Oliveira at UFC<\/a> 280 in October 2022. That night in Abu Dhabi, Makhachev submitted ‘Do Bronx’ in the second round to claim the belt. It was a masterful performance that showcased his elite grappling skills. But according to Oliveira, what happened behind the scenes tells a different story about why Makhachev eventually left the division.<\/p>

Also Read: Daniel Cormier Breaks Down Why Chael Sonnen’s Take Misses the Mark On Islam Makhachev’s Pursuit Of Greatness At 170<\/a><\/p>

Charles Oliveira Details Islam Makhachev’s Welterweight Move<\/h2>

Weight cutting has been the silent enemy of many fighters throughout UFC history. The process of draining your body to make weight can be absolutely brutal. Some fighters handle it better than others, but everyone feels the pain. Oliveira has seen it firsthand, and he believes this is exactly what drove Makhachev’s decision to move up.<\/p>

“Look, I don’t see it that way, I see the weight cut as the reason. I saw this a couple of times already. I’ve been at the same event as him and seen his weight cut. It’s brutal, you know? At weigh-ins on Friday, I saw how drained he was. Many people said he was struggling to make weight…I think it’s because he wants to be in better fight shape, you know? And to cut weight better, he decided to move up. He will be much stronger. He’s improving a lot on his feet, and his ground game is incredibly strong, so that will be a great fight,” <\/em><\/strong>said Oliveira via MMAToday.<\/p>

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Charles Oliveira believes Islam Makhachev moved up due to weight cutting and says he’ll be much stronger at welterweight.⚖️💪

\"I see the weight cut as the reason. I saw this a couple of times already. I've been at the same event as him and seen his weight cut — it's brutal. I… pic.twitter.com\/i4YFUJ9iEd<\/a><\/p>— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) May 22, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>