Veteran UFC welterweight Vicente Luque shared his perspective on potential lightweight champion Islam Makhachev making a move to the 170-pound division. Luque believes such a move would be “very cool” and expects the Dagestani star to achieve success.
However, Luque pointed out that size could be a factor. Makhachev, who stands 5-foot-10 with a 70.5-inch reach, dominated the lightweight class with 15 consecutive wins before potentially seeking a second belt. This impressive streak included victories over prominent fighters like Alexander Volkanovski, Dustin Poirier, and Renato Moicano. Despite his lightweight success, Makhachev would face a height and reach disadvantage against current welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena and every fighter presently ranked in the top 15.
Reflecting on past training sessions, Luque commented,
I’ve trained with him a few times, so I can say that he really is very good on the ground, a ton of pressure and technique. He’s not weak for the division. I don’t know how he’s working, if he’s looking to add more weight and maybe more power compared to when we trained, since he was always fighting at 155. But he has a lot of pressure and isometric strength.
Makhachev`s success at lightweight has heavily relied on his exceptional wrestling and submission prowess, leading to many tap-outs against jiu-jitsu black belts. However, repeating this dominance in the heavier 170-pound division, particularly against powerful welterweights, could present new challenges. This is especially relevant if his first welterweight fight is against the hard-hitting Jack Della Maddalena, who holds an 8-0 record in the UFC with five finishes.
Luque elaborated on Makhachev`s ground game and the division`s differences:
His ground game is very refined, right? As for the height, he’s not that tall, but if he compensates with the ground, with his top-notch wrestling, I think he won’t have problems in the division. Of course that it’s different, we’re stronger. It could be more difficult as the fight progresses, three or five rounds, and the power is a whole other game. That makes a difference. We undoubtedly hit harder than the guys at 155. If he can’t close the distance, that could be a difficulty. Let’s see how this fight goes. He’s super tough, so I don’t think we can say he has no chances. He has a good chance at coming in and becoming champion, but he will have to work hard.
Does this mean Luque predicts Makhachev will simply overwhelm Della Maddalena on the ground? Not exactly. Luque stressed that MMA involves many factors beyond just grappling. While acknowledging Makhachev`s elite ground skills (stating he`d “go for the kill” in a submission tournament), he noted that MMA is “more complex.” Grappling against heavier opponents demands significantly more strength and is more physically draining. Luque believes we need to observe how Makhachev adapts to these variables, assuming he`s already training with larger partners.
As the UFC has not yet scheduled a date for Makhachev`s potential welterweight title bid, Luque is focused on his own upcoming fight. He is set to face Kevin Holland at UFC 316 in Newark. Luque is coming off a quick victory over Themba Gorimbo in December and aims to build momentum against the often-active “Trailblazer.”
Discussing the stylistic match-up with Holland, Luque stated,
I think it’s going to be a great fight. It’s a great match-up for me style-wise. I like to fight aggressive opponents, people that come to fight. I can counter and capitalize on their aggressiveness, on the feet and on the ground. I can’t predict too much because he’s very unpredictable in the sense that I don’t know if he will stand and trade or try to take me down, but I’m prepared in all areas and with all tools sharp. I’m confident, and I’m ready for everything.
Both Luque and Holland are known for being among the most active fighters in the welterweight division. Luque is preparing for his 23rd appearance in the octagon across a decade, while Holland will make his 26th walk to the cage since debuting in 2018, marking his third fight already in 2025. However, Luque feels that slowing down his activity slightly in recent years has offered certain advantages.
Luque explained his perspective on activity:
Being active gets you sharp, but you don’t develop new tricks. I became more predictable. I’m studying his fights and preparing for what he does, but I’m also prepared for something surprising. But if he comes the way he’s fighting recently, he could be more predictable. I don’t know what his goal is. I for one am focused on climbing to the top of the division. That’s why I’m not so worried about taking all the fights I can. I think that also changes our focus in the fight. I’m focused on going there and winning in dominant fashion against Holland.
He reflected on his previously busy schedule:
That busy run I did was great, when I did several fights [in 2018 and 2019], and it also put me well ranked in the division at that time, but I think the moment is different now. I’ve been in the top 5, I’ve showed my potential. Many people I’ve fought are now on a rise, like Belal [Muhammad] and [Joaquin] Buckley. I never had easy fights, and always went there to give my best and be competitive. So I think that’s something I’ve noticed, that it’s time to take the right fights. That doesn’t mean I won’t fight maybe twice more this year. If it’s the right fights against opponents that make sense and I’m ok, [I’ll do it], but fighting just to fight, to stay active without a goal, that’s not the moment.
Luque`s current objective is clear:
My goal is to go back to the top this year, to climb to the top, so I have to be smart. And I think I’ve proven that I have the skills to be at the top. I don’t need to be fighting everybody and testing myself against everybody anymore. I have to take the fights that take me [to] the top.
