UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev posted a photo on social media alongside Ramazan Kuramagomedov with the caption "The welterweight division belongs to us." The post suggests confidence in Russian dominance in the 170-pound weight class. Kuramagomedov is a welterweight prospect training in the same camp as Makhachev. The statement appears to be a bold declaration about the team's presence and strength at welterweight. Details about any specific upcoming fights or plans were not provided in the post.
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev took to social media this week to make a pointed statement about the welterweight division, posting a photo alongside undefeated prospect Ramazan Kuramagomedov with the caption "The welterweight division belongs to us."
Makhachev, 34, enters any divisional conversation as one of combat sports' most decorated active fighters. The Russian southpaw carries a 28-1 record and holds the number-one pound-for-pound ranking in the UFC. Standing five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach, he operates out of Eagles MMA and has built his reputation on a suffocating grappling game, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.1 submission attempts in the same span. His striking accuracy of 58 percent is equally difficult to ignore.
Kuramagomedov, the man beside him in the photo, brings his own compelling credentials to the 170-pound picture. The 29-year-old Russian is a perfect 8-0 and trains out of American Top Team. At six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach, he poses a physical problem for welterweights, and his numbers reflect genuine finishing ability — a striking accuracy of 67 percent and a remarkable 11.67 significant strikes landed per minute suggest a fighter who tends to make short work of opponents.
Why it matters
- Makhachev's public endorsement of Kuramagomedov puts a spotlight on the unbeaten prospect at 170 pounds
- The post signals Eagles MMA and its affiliated Russian contingent view welterweight as fertile ground for expansion
- Kuramagomedov's undefeated record and elite striking metrics make him a credible divisional threat, not simply a camp teammate riding Makhachev's profile
- No fights or formal targets were announced, leaving the declaration as a statement of intent rather than a confirmed plan
