UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev said he will not vacate the title if he moves up to welterweight. Saturday’s main event at UFC 315 features current welterweight champion Belal Muhammad looking to defend his title against Jack Della Maddalena.

Islam Makhachev, the UFC lightweight king, declared he will retain his 155-pound crown no matter the result of UFC 315’s welterweight showdown. The event, set for May 10, 2025, at Bell Centre in Montreal,

Will Islam Makhachev Move Up In Weight? Considered by many, including the UFC's official rankings, as the pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter in the sport, Makhachev is eagerly awaiting his next opponent, with all signs likely pointing toward a super fight with former UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria.