Sean Strickland’s reaction to Islam Makhachev considering middleweight was surprising.
UFC lightweight champion Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) insists on fulfilling his goal of becoming dual-champion before he calls it a career. But with his friend and training partner Belal Muhammad currently holding the UFC welterweight strap, his plans have been momentarily put on hold.
That had Makhachev contemplating jumping up to 185 pounds, which middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis cautioned him about. Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) challenges Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in a title-fight rematch, which headlines UFC 312 Feb. 8 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+).