Vicente Luque believes Islam Makhachev‘s move to welterweight will be exciting and potentially successful, despite concerns about size and strength against heavier opponents, while Luque himself focuses on strategic fights to climb the division.
UFC welterweight veteran Vicente Luque thinks Islam Makhachev’s move to the 170-pound class will be “very cool.” He expects the Russian star to succeed. But, size could be an issue.
Makhachev, standing at 5-foot-10 with a 70.5-inch reach, dominated the lightweight division with 15 straight wins. He took down big names like Alexander Volkanovski, Dustin Poirier, and Renato Moicano before deciding to chase a second belt in a higher weight class. Yet, he faces height and reach disadvantages against welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena and the top 15 fighters.
“I’ve trained with him a few times,” Luque shared with MMA Fighting. “He’s very good on the ground, with tons of pressure and technique. He’s not weak for the division. I don’t know if he’s adding weight or power since we last trained, but he’s got a lot of isometric strength.”
Makhachev’s wrestling and submission skills allowed him to dominate lightweights, tapping out many jiu-jitsu black belts. However, doing the same in a heavier class might be tougher. Especially since he’s expected to debut against newly-crowned champion Della Maddalena, who boasts five finishes in his 8-0 UFC run.
“His ground game is very refined, right?” Luque commented. “He’s not that tall, but if he compensates with his top-notch wrestling, he shouldn’t have problems. It’s different, though. We hit harder at 170. If he can’t close the distance, that could be a challenge. Let’s see how it goes. He’s tough, and I think he has a good chance of becoming champion, but he’ll have to work hard.”
Does Luque expect Makhachev to dominate Della Maddalena with grappling? Not so fast. “There are many factors in a fight,” Luque noted. “If this were a submission tournament, he’d get the kill. But MMA is more complex, and grappling heavier guys demands more strength. Let’s see how he adapts.”
The UFC hasn’t announced a date for Makhachev’s welterweight debut. Meanwhile, Luque prepares for his first fight in 2025 against Kevin Holland at UFC 316 in Newark. After defeating Themba Gorimbo in December, Luque aims to maintain momentum.
“I think it’s going to be a great fight,” Luque said. “I like aggressive opponents. I can counter and capitalize on their aggressiveness. I’m ready for everything.”
Luque and Holland are among the most active welterweights. Luque is entering his 23rd octagon appearance, while Holland makes his 26th since 2018. Holland’s already on his third fight in 2025, and Luque sees the benefit of slowing down recently.
“Being active keeps you sharp, but you don’t develop new tricks,” Luque explained. “I’m studying his fights, preparing for surprises. But if he fights predictably, I have a plan. My focus is on climbing to the top of the division.”
“The busy run in 2018 and 2019 was great,” he continued, “but the moment is different now. I’ve been in the top 5. Many I’ve fought are now rising stars. It’s time for the right fights, not just any fight.”
“My goal is to return to the top this year,” Luque concluded. “I have the skills to be there. I don’t need to fight everyone anymore. I need the fights that take me to the top.”