The 34-year-old former UFC lightweight champion from Russia, **[Islam Makhachev](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/islam-makhachev)**, shared his motivations for becoming a two-time UFC champion as he prepares to face the titleholder in the welterweight division, Australian **Jack Della Maddalena**. Their fight is scheduled for November 16 at UFC 322 in New York City, USA.

“In my youth, I never imagined I would become the best in the world. However, the people around me always said, ‘Just train hard, and you will become a champion.’ So, I have been preparing for this my entire life. Few can boast about what I have achieved in sports. I have spent my life competing against the best fighters, and all my opponents have been extremely dangerous.

Once you become a UFC champion, it’s important to keep moving forward. I have accomplished everything I needed to do in the lightweight division, and I believe I deserve to become a two-time champion. Right now, my goal is to secure that second title,” Makhachev stated in an interview with the UFC press service.