Islam Makhachev retained the UFC welterweight title last weekend in Philadelphia, defeating Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision at UFC 330. The win was straightforward enough. What followed sparked a separate conversation.
After the bout, Makhachev was seen carrying two championship belts around the Octagon: his current 170-pound strap and the 155-pound title he previously held. The display caught the attention of former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway, who pushed back on the optics via his Kick channel, according to MMA Mania.
Holloway’s Reaction on Kick
Holloway expressed genuine confusion rather than outright anger. As reported by MMA Mania, he asked aloud why Makhachev needed two belts, questioning whether the gesture was purely for the image. He acknowledged Makhachev’s status while pointing out that the lightweight crown was a temporary arrangement now consigned to history, and that the Dagestani fighter is currently defending only one title. He trailed off without a firm conclusion, admitting he simply did not know.
The context matters here. Makhachev vacated the lightweight championship when he moved up to welterweight, meaning he did not lose the title in competition. He held the 155-pound belt and defended it four times, but another fighter has since claimed it. Ilia Topuria won the vacant strap by beating Charles Oliveira, and Justin Gaethje subsequently took it from Topuria.
A Pattern Across the Roster
Makhachev is not the only fighter to have done this. As MMA Mania noted, Ilia Topuria carried two belts himself after stopping Oliveira at UFC 317 in June 2025, even though he had already vacated the featherweight title he previously held.
MiddleEasy reported that Makhachev’s win pushed his UFC winning streak to 17 consecutive bouts, making him one of the rare fighters in the promotion’s history to defend titles across two different weight classes. Makhachev Targets Anderson Silva’s All-Time Win Streak Record at UFC 330 Those numbers are significant regardless of what accessories accompany a post-fight lap.
Holloway himself is familiar with belt symbolism getting complicated. He held the featherweight title for years, won the BMF belt with a last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, and has previously called out similar display choices, including reacting to Topuria carrying a BMF belt he never won inside the cage.
What Comes Next for Makhachev
The double-belt image does not alter Makhachev’s actual standing. He remains the reigning UFC welterweight champion after a convincing defence, with names such as Carlos Prates and Michael Morales circling the title picture following UFC 330, per MiddleEasy. The next welterweight title fight has not been formally booked.
Holloway’s comments add a minor footnote to a significant night for Makhachev, one that illustrates how championship belt etiquette has grown increasingly loose as fighters move between divisions with greater regularity.
