Belal Muhammad's latest revelation clears the path for Islam Makhachev's second UFC belt pursuit without competing against each other

Belal Muhammad recently presented a potential strategy that appears to open the door for Islam Makhachev to achieve his goal of becoming a two-division champion, all without the need for them to face off in the octagon.

Makhachev is poised for his fourth defense of the lightweight title against Arman Tsarukyan in the headliner of UFC 311 this weekend at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The Dagestani champion has consistently voiced his ambition to capture two UFC titles, and he potentially could be one step closer to realizing that dream if all goes according to plan in his bout against Tsarukyan.

However, there is a significant obstacle to Makhachev’s potential move up a division, as he has previously stated that he has no interest in fighting the reigning UFC welterweight champion, Muhammad, due to their close relationship.

During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, 'Remember the Name' addressed Makhachev’s dilemma regarding his future plans. Muhammad suggested that after successfully defending his title against Shavkat Rakhmonov, he could potentially move up to the middleweight division, creating an opportunity for Makhachev as well:

"I've said it a million times, I think he [Makhachev] can go up to 185 [pounds], but for me, I’ve got Shavkat, and then we're still looking to see what’s next... There's a lot of guys in the division, but there's not a clear No. 2 contender. And for me, since I had to take the long road, right, I’ve had five top-10 wins, so I'm at the point where I could win two and then go up to 185 and go for double champ status."

Check out Belal Muhammad's comments below:

---

Islam Makhachev vows to pursue second UFC title before retiring

Islam Makhachev has hinted at a potential move to the welterweight division somewhere down the road, though it’s likely he would avoid a matchup with Belal Muhammad out of mutual respect and camaraderie.

However, during a recent interview with TNT Sports, Makhachev acknowledged that 'anything can change' and emphasized that he is determined to seize the lifetime opportunity to become a two-division champion

"It's not my job, but it's my goal. I'm not gonna leave this sport without second belt. This is my goal... He [Muhammad] is my friend. We was training last week together, we have this [same] manager for both. Yeah, we'll talk. Anything can change like very quick. That's why I am not planning to retire. I have time."

Check out Islam Makhachev's comments below: