“I will return to lightweight only for special fights ... A couple of times Islam and I were scheduled to fight, but I got injured, and then he refused to fight in the week of the fight. We had a chance to fight at welterweight, he first volunteered, I agreed, but he refused, and as a result, Renato Moicano took the fight. We could close the issue and fight in the welterweight or lightweight category, but I won't be too upset if this fight never happens."
Recall that Makhachev became the champion by defeating Charles Oliveira by choke in the second round.