Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC), who has defended his lightweight title a division-record four times, said he won’t retire before chasing his goal of becoming UFC dual-champion. But Muhammad can see a scenario where he notches a couple of title defenses, then move up to middleweight for his own opportunity at winning a second title.

Muhammad argued that the middleweight division lacks difficult challenges, excluding top contender Khamzat Chimaev. The welterweight champ dispariged UFC 313's main event title fight between Du Plessis and Sean Strickland as a prime example of the weight class' shallowness.