Max Holloway has some questions about Islam Makhachev’s style choices, namely the choice to carry not one, but two belts on his person.
Makhachev recorded the first successful defense of his welterweight title this past Saturday in the main event of UFC 330 with a unanimous decision win over Ian Machado Garry. Having previously defended the lightweight title four times, Makhachev joined Henry Cejudo, Daniel Cormier, Jon Jones, and Amanda Nunes as the only UFC fighters to successfully defend belts in two weight classes.
However, Makhachev vacated the 155-pound title to move up to 170, and the lightweight title has already been claimed by two other fighters since with Ilia Topuria winning the vacant belt by defeating Charles Oliveira, and now Justin Gaethje currently holding it after upsetting Topuria at UFC White House.
All of that has Holloway confused as to why Makhachev is still sporting double gold.
“Why the f*ck do you have two belts?” Holloway asked on his Kick channel. “For aura? I mean, it is what it is, like, you are, but you’re not.”
‼️🎙️Max Holloway on Islam having 2 belts after UFC 330 win:
— Dovy🔌 (@DovySimuMMA) August 17, 2026
“Why the fuck do you have two belts? For aura? I mean, like, it is what it is, bro. I mean, like, you are, but you're not. That was temporary, but now you're just defending one belt, bro.” pic.twitter.com/zOo2PYztlG
It should be noted that a new UFC belt is made every time a fighter wins a championship for the first time, meaning Makhachev still has his own that he won back in 2022, while a new one was made for Topuria. Makhachev is also not the first fighter to walk around with two belts, though as Holloway points out, it doesn’t appear as if Makhachev has any plans to return to the lightweight division.
“That was temporary but now you’re just defending one belt, bro,” Holloway said. “Why you keep—I don’t know. I don’t know, guys.”
Holloway is no stranger to championship glory, having reigned as featherweight king from 2017-2019. He also won the “BMF” title in 2024 with an all-time great knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.
On Monday afternoon, Makhachev responded to Holloway via a post on MMA Fighting’s Instagram.
“I don’t know, bro,” Makhachev wrote. “It’s even too heavy to hold. But you don’t understand, sorry.”