Islam Makhachev displayed significant size on fight night at UFC 322, adding nearly 20 pounds after stepping on the scale. The former 155-pound champion made a smooth transition to welterweight, demonstrating that he carries his strength and wrestling skills effectively even at a higher weight class.
Post-Weigh-In Weight Gain
In the recently released Anatomy of a Fighter series, Makhachev is shown backstage after weigh-ins at 170 pounds. By fight time, his weight had climbed to 189.4 pounds — an increase of almost 20 pounds.
Makhachev’s opponent, Jack Della Maddalena, weighed in slightly lighter at 169.8 pounds. On fight night, the size difference did not hinder Makhachev; he utilized his signature wrestling to control Della Maddalena across the cage for the full 25 minutes.
Islam Makhachev weighed ~189.4 lbs on fight night against JDM 👀
(via @WillHarrisAOAF) pic.twitter.com/UXbGX1GH6Y
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) November 19, 2025
UFC 322 marked Makhachev’s first fight at 170 pounds after a dominant lightweight run, which included 15 straight victories, a UFC lightweight title, and four consecutive successful defenses — a UFC record. Following Della Maddalena’s victory over Belal Muhammad earlier this year, Makhachev vacated his 155-pound belt to pursue a second championship at welterweight.
His ability to add nearly 20 pounds while maintaining agility and stamina highlights the careful planning and conditioning required to move up in weight without compromising performance.
