Why Islam Makhachev says his second welterweight camp is different

Islam

Makhachev is settling in nicely at welterweight, which gives

him even more confidence.

Makhachev (28-1) recently revealed that his training camp for his

Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight debut was

challenging and that he’s better adjusted to the higher weight

class going into his first title defense at 170 pounds. The former

lightweight champ takes on Ian Garry

(17-1) in the main event of UFC

330 , which takes place Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in

Philadelphia. Islam Makhachev details his transition from lightweight

champion to UFC welterweight titleholder

Makhachev was focused primarily on securing the belt rather than

chasing a finish against Jack

Della Maddalena last year. The Russian claims to be more

comfortable going into his second welterweight outing, as he isn’t

lifting weights during camp.

“Now, I feel more comfortable, honestly,” Makhachev told MMA

Junkie. “The first camp, so hard. I just tried to gain weight, do a

lot of lifting program, but this camp I stay at the same weight.

I'm not going to go down. Now, I'm like real welterweight. This

camp I think is more easy, but you can't say it's easy, because

we're not lifting much.”

Makhachev now wants a finish after his title-winning effort came

via decision. Given that his body is more suited to the weight

class, he’s open to taking risks in order to force a stoppage

inside 25 minutes.

“This fight, I will take more risks to finish my opponent, because

I like finishing my opponents,” Makhachev added. “This fight, I

think honestly, from the first time when I take him down, I have a

chance to finish him, because I saw his ground game – it's not so

good, you know? He has good striking, long reach, long arm, and he

controls the distance, always goes back, but I see when I take him

down, it's going to be a finish."

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