--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't call me lightweight champion. Call…" description: "\"Don't call me lightweight champion. Call me pound-for-pound best fighter.\" — Islam Makhachev" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/islam-makhachev-6446_best_don-t-call-me-lightweight-champion-call_365473.jpg" --- # Don't call me lightweight champion. Call me… ![“Don't call me lightweight champion. Call me pound-for-pound best fighter.” quote by Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/islam-makhachev-6446_best_don-t-call-me-lightweight-champion-call_365473.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/islam-makhachev-6446_best_don-t-call-me-lightweight-champion-call_365473.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/islam-makhachev-6446_best_don-t-call-me-lightweight-champion-call_365473.jpg) > “Don't call me lightweight champion. Call me pound-for-pound best fighter.” [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A champion’s true strength lies in overall skill, not just weight class. **In simple terms:** Skill defines champion. Key Takeaway Focus on all abilities. Themes sports competition identity Mood determined confident Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - training regimen - coach feedback - competition strategy Key Concepts skill development weight class perception mental toughness Questions to Reflect On - What does being pound‑for‑pound mean to you? - How to balance size and skill? A Different Perspective Weight categories still matter in official rankings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champion/) [Fighter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighter/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [I will be the UFC lightweight champion. Mark my words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chiesa/i-will-be-the-ufc-lightweight-champion-mark-my-words/) [Michael Chiesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chiesa/) > [I'm the former lightweight champion. I want to fight one of the top guys. I don't want to fight a guy who isn't ranked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-dos-anjos/i-m-the-former-lightweight-champion-i-want-to-fight-one-of-the-top/) [Rafael dos Anjos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-dos-anjos/) > [When I was 22 years old, I wanted to become the lightweight champion of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-penn/when-i-was-22-years-old-i-wanted-to-become-the-lightweight-champion/) [B. J. Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-penn/) > [People like to call themselves fans of fighting and fans of the sport, but if you're a fan of fighting, how can you not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-cormier/people-like-to-call-themselves-fans-of-fighting-and-fans-of-the-sport/) [Daniel Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-cormier/) > [They call Ray Robinson the best fighter, pound for pound. I'm the best fighter, ounce for ounce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-pep/they-call-ray-robinson-the-best-fighter-pound-for-pound-i-m-the-best/) [Willie Pep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-pep/) > [My dream is to be World Lightweight Champion in the UFC. Have more money than I know what to do with. And have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/my-dream-is-to-be-world-lightweight-champion-in-the-ufc-have-more/) [Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/) > [I've always felt, pound for pound, I'm one of the best guys around; but you get stuck in people's eyes in a certain way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-landau/i-ve-always-felt-pound-for-pound-i-m-one-of-the-best-guys-around-but/) [Martin Landau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-landau/) > [“Pound-for-pound, I’m the best non-fighter in the world. I could kick Gandhi’s ass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/pound-for-pound-i-m-the-best-non-fighter-in-the-world-i-could-kick/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Rankings don't mean much to me but I'm working towards being the pound-for-pound best in everyone's mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/rankings-don-t-mean-much-to-me-but-i-m-working-towards-being-the/) [Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/) > [I think around the time that he signed with WWE, no one had more of a buzz in wrestling than Kenta, as far as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-waltman/i-think-around-the-time-that-he-signed-with-wwe-no-one-had-more-of-a/) [Sean Waltman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-waltman/) > [Pound for pound, your show is the best of its kind. I'm always learning from your great content!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-shoemaker/pound-for-pound-your-show-is-the-best-of-its-kind-i-m-always-learning/) Craig Shoemaker > [Right now, it's very difficult to single out one fighter, pound-for-pound, who is the best. Right now, it's very complex. Miguel Cotto, Mayweather and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-duran/right-now-it-s-very-difficult-to-single-out-one-fighter-pound-for/) [Roberto Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-duran/) > [Not many people can say they were the pound-for-pound best, but I'm one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-mosley/not-many-people-can-say-they-were-the-pound-for-pound-best-but-i-m/) [Shane Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-mosley/) > [I beat Anderson Silva and then Luke Rockhold, who was, pound-for-pound, one of the best. Now I get to do Dan Henderson, who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bisping/i-beat-anderson-silva-and-then-luke-rockhold-who-was-pound-for-pound/) [Michael Bisping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bisping/) > [I have to be No. 1 pound-for-pound champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/i-have-to-be-no-1-pound-for-pound-champion/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) ## More by Islam Makhachev > [I have to be No. 1 pound-for-pound champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/i-have-to-be-no-1-pound-for-pound-champion/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) > [It's not my job thinking about the future because I have a manager. I have a team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/it-s-not-my-job-thinking-about-the-future-because-i-have-a-manager-i/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) > [I told everybody I can strike with anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/i-told-everybody-i-can-strike-with-anyone/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) > [First of all, I want to say that Dustin is one of the legends of our sport. He is someone who will undoubtedly be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/first-of-all-i-want-to-say-that-dustin-is-one-of-the-legends-of-our/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) > [To be honest, I've already said that I'm not that interested in rematches. Because if you want to win someone in a good way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/to-be-honest-i-ve-already-said-that-i-m-not-that-interested-in/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) > [All fighters from the top 10, they avoid me for many years, but I have all the skills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/all-fighters-from-the-top-10-they-avoid-me-for-many-years-but-i-have/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) > [Of course I don't want to fight with someone out of the rankings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/of-course-i-don-t-want-to-fight-with-someone-out-of-the-rankings/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) > [I have all skills, but I always choose easy way. Take them down and finish them there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/i-have-all-skills-but-i-always-choose-easy-way-take-them-down-and/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) > [I love big fights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/i-love-big-fights/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) > [Dariush's skills were highly appreciated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/dariush-s-skills-were-highly-appreciated/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) > [I grapple with Khabib all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/i-grapple-with-khabib-all-my-life/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) > [Nobody wants to give me an answer, but my dream is to fight with Kevin Lee. I tell everybody it doesn't matter where, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/nobody-wants-to-give-me-an-answer-but-my-dream-is-to-fight-with-kevin/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) > [I want to be in the history and people know me like double champ. This is my dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/i-want-to-be-in-the-history-and-people-know-me-like-double-champ-this/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) > [Always when the champion from other divisions they fight with other champions, it's a big, big fight and very interesting fight for all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/always-when-the-champion-from-other-divisions-they-fight-with-other/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) > [Because we have many UFC champions, but not much double champs, I want to be a double champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/because-we-have-many-ufc-champions-but-not-much-double-champs-i-want/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) [Explore all 99 Islam Makhachev quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) ## More Best quotes > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [Scepticism and cynicism about politics is so great that one of the best counters to it is what you can do at a local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/scepticism-and-cynicism-about-politics-is-so-great-that-one-of-the/) [Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [It's no wonder Pep is one of the best coaches in the world. When I knew I could work with him I was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ederson/it-s-no-wonder-pep-is-one-of-the-best-coaches-in-the-world-when-i/) [Ederson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ederson/) > [“Before you were my enemy, you were my best friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/before-you-were-my-enemy-you-were-my-best-friend/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I want to be perceived as a guy who played his best in all facets, not just scoring. A guy who loved challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/i-want-to-be-perceived-as-a-guy-who-played-his-best-in-all-facets-not/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-rice/i-feel-like-i-m-the-best-but-you-re-not-going-to-get-me-to-say-that/) [Jerry Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-rice/) > [Life is where you love people and use things not use people and love things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/life-is-where-you-love-people-and-use-things-not-use-people-and-love/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [With every product, the delta between the brand and the reality determines its power over the minds of consumers, and with Trump, that delta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/with-every-product-the-delta-between-the-brand-and-the-reality/) [Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/) > [The human element should be the two players on the court, not the officials. The best officials are the ones you never notice. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-scott/the-human-element-should-be-the-two-players-on-the-court-not-the/) Gene Scott > [I'm looking to fight the best guys in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-rodriguez/i-m-looking-to-fight-the-best-guys-in-the-world/) [Yair Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-rodriguez/) > [Batley and Spen has a high proportion of people working in manufacturing, and we can boast the full range of industries, including high-skilled, precision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-cox/batley-and-spen-has-a-high-proportion-of-people-working-in/) [Jo Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-cox/) > [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. I genuinely believe that 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-is-no-secret-that-i-have-read-the-da-vinci-code-several-times-i/) [Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/) > [Any position I was going to be in, I was going to make the best of it. I always do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/any-position-i-was-going-to-be-in-i-was-going-to-make-the-best-of-it/) [Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/) Browse all 21,674 Best quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't call me lightweight champion. Call me pound-for-pound best fighter.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Islam Makhachev" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/don-t-call-me-lightweight-champion-call-me-pound-for-pound-best/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Best" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/don-t-call-me-lightweight-champion-call-me-pound-for-pound-best/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/islam-makhachev-6446_best_don-t-call-me-lightweight-champion-call_365473.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/islam-makhachev-6446_best_don-t-call-me-lightweight-champion-call_365473.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/islam-makhachev-6446_best_don-t-call-me-lightweight-champion-call_365473.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Don't call me lightweight champion. Call me pound-for-pound best fighter.” — Islam Makhachev", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Islam Makhachev", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Don't call me lightweight champion. Call...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/don-t-call-me-lightweight-champion-call-me-pound-for-pound-best/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/don-t-call-me-lightweight-champion-call-me-pound-for-pound-best/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```