ISLAM MAKHACHEV completed a stunning body transformation as he took to the scales this morning.
The former long-reigning lightweight champion will bid to become the new king of the welterweights early on Sunday morning in the main event of UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden.
Standing between Makhachev and double champ status is Aussie assassin Jack Della Maddalena, who claimed the belt in May with beatdown of Belal Muhammad.
Makahchev has been pumping the iron for the last TEN MONTHS in preparation for a move up 170lbs.
And he revealed his hulking new physique at the official weigh-ins at the fighter hotel this afternoon.
The Dagestani destroyer, 34, came in at 170lbs on the nose.
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Champion Della Maddalena has yet to take to the scales.
Makhachev’s mammoth frame quickly became the talk of MMA fans on social media.
The former pound-for-pound king’s dramatic body transformation has been the result of countless hours in the weight room and a calorie surplus.
But he’s also blown up thanks to taking creatine for the first time in his career.
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He told ESPN: “I’m using creatine for the first time in my life, almost every day.
“It’s the first supplement where I actually see real changes. It helps with recovery, helps gain weight, gives strength.”
He added: “It’s really hard to gain mass, but eventually I got a bit bigger. Over the last couple of months, it’s been a struggle.
“I was taking protein and creatine after every training session and tried to eat more.
“But it’s difficult to gain weight when you train twice a day. “I want to weigh around 87 kg, and about 83 kg during fight week.
“I used to weigh 82–83, now it’s 87. The weight cut will be very easy.
“I used to feel like I recovered only 60–70 per cent [at lightweight]. It’s hard to recover in just 30 hours.
“Now I’m really curious to see how I’ll recover.
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“I already feel it’s going to be different, especially in the later rounds, the championship rounds.”
UFC 322 will be aired live in the UK on TNT Sports Box Office. TNT Sports is the home of UFC in the UK. To find out more, visit here.
