Diego Lima reinforces his discomfort with the lightweight situation and protests against Islam Makhachev's attitude

Diego Lima (left) next to Charles of the Bronx (dir). Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @diegolimacb

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Present in everyday life Charles of the Bronx and keeping an eye on the chaotic situation that the lightweight division (up to 70,3 kg) is experiencing in the UFC, Diego Lima showed discomfort with the attitudes of Islam makhachev. While the Russian has yet to decide what his next step will be, the Brazilian's coach suggested that if the champion does indeed move up to welterweight (up to 77,1 kg), he would then lose the right to hold the current belt in his division.

“If Makhachev moves up? Then he loses the belt. It’s like Ilia Topuria. I think the UFC will ask him to choose. If he says 'I'll fight' (at 77 lbs.), then they have to create an interim. I can't put an entire division on hold. Personally, I think it's absurd to hold an entire division," Diego said in an interview with MMA Fighting.

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Continuing to speak, Lima reinforced his anguish over the situation he was experiencing and highlighted the importance of the category continuing to flow normally.

“When an athlete moves up a category, he has to give up the belt or create an interim belt. When a fighter starts to spend too much time thinking about what he’s going to do, then it’s time to create an interim belt. The division needs to move. Fighters fight hard to get the belt and, when they get there, they want to keep the belt. It shouldn’t be like that, man,” he concluded.

I. Makhachev and D. White during a ceremonial face-off at the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/X

In preparation for his next fight, Makhachev has not yet announced whether he will continue at lightweight or whether he will actually seek a second welterweight title. In his latest statement, the Russian said that the plan was to wait for the result of the fight between Belal Muhammad | x Jack Della Maddalena, which takes place on May 10th, at UFC 315, to be able to define the next step in your career.