Islam Makhachev is stepping into a new chapter of his UFC career. The former lightweight and pound-for-pound king is set to debut at 170 pounds when he challenges Jack Della Maddalena for the welterweight title at UFC 322 in Madison Square Garden.
Fans have noticed the drastic change in Makhachev’s physique during his training camp, a transformation he attributes to a surprisingly simple addition to his regimen: creatine.
Speaking to ESPN, Makhachev admitted that this was his first time ever using the supplement.
I’m using creatine for the first time in my life, almost every day, he said. It’s the first supplement where I actually see real changes. It helps with recovery, helps gain weight, gives strength.
The Power of a Simple Supplement
For years, Makhachev cut extreme amounts of weight to make the 155-pound limit. That process took a toll on his recovery and endurance. Despite dominating the lightweight division, he now reveals that those weight cuts left him performing at only 60 to 70 percent of his potential.
It’s hard to recover in just 30 hours after the weigh-in, he admitted. Now I’m really curious to see how I’ll recover. I already feel it’s going to be different, especially in the later rounds.
By moving to welterweight, Makhachev is no longer draining his body to make weight. Instead, he’s focused on building mass and power to match the division’s bigger athletes.
Building a New Frame
Islam Makhachev says his first training camp as a welterweight was centered around strength development. The Dagestani star trained with heavier sparring partners and overhauled his nutrition plan.
Our first camp was focused on strength training, he explained. Everything got very tough, I started working with bigger guys. It’s really hard to gain mass, but eventually, I got a bit bigger.
His new weight range now sits between 83 to 87 kilograms (182 to 191 pounds) depending on the week. He expects to enter fight week comfortably around 83 kg and recover easily without the stress of extreme dehydration.
A Better Version of Himself
The change is more than physical, it’s psychological too. Makhachev believes that without the weight-cutting pressure, he can finally perform at his true potential.
He has described his recovery, strength, and endurance as “night and day” compared to his lightweight days.
I used to recover only 60–70 percent at lightweight. Now, I feel stronger and more explosive. This is a new version of me, he said.
Facing Jack Della Maddalena
Jack Della Maddalena, the reigning welterweight champion, is known for his crisp boxing and relentless pace. Islam Makhachev’s improved strength and recovery will be tested when they meet in the main event at UFC 322.
While Della Maddalena has been dominant in his short reign, Makhachev’s pedigree and fight IQ make this one of the most intriguing matchups of the year. The question is whether his newly bulked-up frame and creatine-powered endurance will give him the edge.
I want to weigh around 87 kg, and about 83 kg during fight week. The weight cut will be very easy,” Makhachev said confidently. “Now I’ll be stronger in the later rounds.
The Science Behind the Transformation
Creatine is one of the most well-researched supplements in sports science, known to boost power output, muscle mass, and recovery. For an athlete like Makhachev, who trains twice daily and constantly burns calories, adding creatine is a small but game-changing move.
After years of competing in one of the most physically demanding divisions in MMA, Makhachev’s choice to use a basic supplement might sound trivial. Yet, his discovery of its benefits highlights how even elite fighters continue to evolve their methods.
A Different Kind of Challenge
The upcoming fight is more than a title bid, it’s a test of adaptation. Islam Makhachev dominated at lightweight with superior grappling, precision striking, and composure under pressure. Now, at welterweight, he’ll have to prove he can carry that same dominance against stronger, naturally bigger opponents.
Movsar Evloev may have just secured the biggest opportunity of his career, and it comes with the backing of the champion himself. After a hard fought victory at UFC London,…
