Weight changes don’t always get the attention they deserve in combat sports. Still, they can make or break a fighter’s performance. Dropping down to a lower division or bulking up for a higher one isn’t just a physical adjustment — it’s a mental game too. This season, two names took that gamble and shook up the balance of power: Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev.
If you follow fighters on Instagram, you’ve probably seen how brutal these cuts and gains can be — ice baths, strict diets, sleepless nights. What many don’t see is the digital side of that grind: training data, private footage, and strategy sessions that need to stay secure. That’s why more athletes now start their fight camp prep with one simple step — get a VPN— to protect footage and communications before the spotlight hits.
Dropping Down a Class: When Strength Meets Sacrifice
Some athletes believe going lighter gives them an edge. You might think it’s a smart move — faster pace, better reach. But maintaining that new weight is a grind. The body fights back. Energy dips, reflexes slow, and the mind starts to question every calorie.
Take Ilia Topuria, for example. After dominating at featherweight (145 lbs), he admitted that cutting that low was pushing his body past its limits. His team saw the same warning signs — exhaustion, muscle fatigue, slower recovery. Eventually, Topuria made the call to move up to lightweight (155 lbs). It wasn’t just about chasing a new belt; it was about staying healthy enough to keep fighting.
Climbing to a Heavier Class: Power Without the Pace
Then there’s Islam Makhachev, who flipped the script. After years of ruling the lightweight division, he stepped into welterweight (170 lbs). That’s a big leap — and not just on paper. The higher class brings stronger opponents, but it also slows the tempo.
“I’ve cut weight for years. Now gaining it feels like a whole new battle,” Makhachev said recently. It’s not only about adding muscle; it’s about retraining movement and timing. The biggest test isn’t power — it’s endurance.
If you’ve ever watched training breakdowns on YouTube, you know how much detail goes into this — every punch angle, every breathing rhythm, recalculated from scratch.
Who Handles Change Best?
The fighters who adapt successfully tend to share three traits:
- They let their bodies adjust instead of rushing.
- Mental toughness. They know progress often feels uncomfortable.
- From nutrition to digital safety, nothing’s left to chance.
Experts predict that 2025 won’t just reward raw talent. It’ll reward flexibility — the ability to evolve when the rules of the game change mid-fight.
The Takeaway
Changing divisions takes guts. Managing that change takes brains. Topuria and Makhachev have already shown that the hardest battles happen long before fight night.
In the end, success isn’t just about who hits harder — it’s about who adapts faster, on every level.