--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have to be No. 1 pound-for-pound…" description: "\"I have to be No. 1 pound-for-pound champion.\" — Islam Makhachev" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/islam-makhachev-6446_champion_i-have-to-be-no-1-pound-for-pound-champi_1244.jpg" --- # I have to be No. 1 pound-for-pound champion. ![“I have to be No. 1 pound-for-pound champion.” quote by Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/islam-makhachev-6446_champion_i-have-to-be-no-1-pound-for-pound-champi_1244.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/islam-makhachev-6446_champion_i-have-to-be-no-1-pound-for-pound-champi_1244.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/islam-makhachev-6446_champion_i-have-to-be-no-1-pound-for-pound-champi_1244.jpg) > “I have to be No. 1 pound-for-pound champion.” [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 drive to be the best in one's field, measured by relative performance rather than absolute size. **In simple terms:** Striving for top rank in a specific metric. Key Takeaway Aim for elite status. Themes competition self-improvement performance metrics mindset Mood determined ambitious Type motivational sporting When to use this quote - sports ranking - career advancement - academic standings Key Concepts relative excellence goal orientation Practical Applications - benchmarking personal progress - setting high standards Questions to Reflect On - What does being #1 truly mean for you? - How do you measure success beyond rankings? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champion/) [Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pound/) [Pound Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pound-champion-247293/) [Pound Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pound-pound-247294/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [Winning the world title was my goal as a kid, but being the pound-for-pound champion would be the ultimate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-hatton/winning-the-world-title-was-my-goal-as-a-kid-but-being-the-pound-for/) [Ricky Hatton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-hatton/) > [There's nobody, pound-for-pound, that has what I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rockhold/there-s-nobody-pound-for-pound-that-has-what-i-have/) [Luke Rockhold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rockhold/) > [I'm the best out here, I'm pound-for-pound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrius-andrade/i-m-the-best-out-here-i-m-pound-for-pound/) [Demetrius Andrade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrius-andrade/) > [Pound for pound, I'm unmatched.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville/pound-for-pound-i-m-unmatched/) [Neville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville/) > [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-shoemaker/) > [History says that I'm one of the best pound-for-pound, and I won't stop until I'm number one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-martinez/history-says-that-i-m-one-of-the-best-pound-for-pound-and-i-won-t/) [Sergio Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-martinez/) > [“How I would love to be a British pound. A pound is free to travel to safety and we are free to watch it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/how-i-would-love-to-be-a-british-pound-a-pound-is-free-to-travel-to/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [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've already proved that I don't care if the man I have in front of me is the best pound-for-pound champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcos-maidana/i-ve-already-proved-that-i-don-t-care-if-the-man-i-have-in-front-of/) [Marcos Maidana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcos-maidana/) > [I think Valentina is the best pound-for-pound in the UFC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-andrade/i-think-valentina-is-the-best-pound-for-pound-in-the-ufc/) [Jessica Andrade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-andrade/) > [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/) > [Don't call me lightweight champion. Call me pound-for-pound best fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/don-t-call-me-lightweight-champion-call-me-pound-for-pound-best/) [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/) > [Ground and pound is my thing, everyone knows that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-volkanovski/ground-and-pound-is-my-thing-everyone-knows-that/) [Alexander Volkanovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-volkanovski/) > [“I like ’em round, more of them to pound.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ker-dukey/i-like-em-round-more-of-them-to-pound/) [Ker Dukey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ker-dukey/) ## More by 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/) > [Don't call me lightweight champion. Call me pound-for-pound best fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/don-t-call-me-lightweight-champion-call-me-pound-for-pound-best/) [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 Champion quotes > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [I still have to unify my division and basically become the undefeated welterweight champion of the world. I can't lose. It is more added…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/errol-spence-jr/i-still-have-to-unify-my-division-and-basically-become-the-undefeated/) [Errol Spence Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/errol-spence-jr/) > [Palindrome as well. My sister's name is Hannah. Father liked word games. He was fourteen times World Scrabble Champion. When he died, we buried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/palindrome-as-well-my-sister-s-name-is-hannah-father-liked-word-games/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [ Bernie \[Ecclestone\] is the commercial rights holder so the more outgoing the champion is, the better. Of course. I also do think about our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-ecclestone/bernie-ecclestone-is-the-commercial-rights-holder-so-the-more/) [Bernie Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-ecclestone/) > [The truth is the Vintage Vitor never left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitor-belfort/the-truth-is-the-vintage-vitor-never-left/) [Vitor Belfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitor-belfort/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [Winners are born, Champions are made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-falcon-scott/winners-are-born-champions-are-made/) [Robert Falcon Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-falcon-scott/) > [It's interesting that the greatest minds of computer science, the founding fathers, like Alan Turing and Claude Shannon and Norbert Wiener, they all looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/it-s-interesting-that-the-greatest-minds-of-computer-science-the/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [To be a champion long-distance runner you have to run on the edge of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toshihiko-seko/to-be-a-champion-long-distance-runner-you-have-to-run-on-the-edge-of/) [Toshihiko Seko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toshihiko-seko/) > [“There is a scene in one of the Rocky movies where after the match Apollo Creed and Rocky are waiting for the scoring of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-passaro/there-is-a-scene-in-one-of-the-rocky-movies-where-after-the-match/) [John A. Passaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-passaro/) > [Champions are made from something they have deep inside of them-a desire, a dream, a vison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/champions-are-made-from-something-they-have-deep-inside-of-them-a/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [It needs to be discussed whether the introduction of the 'Champions Path,' which is open to every champion in Europe, also of the small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-heinz-rummenigge/it-needs-to-be-discussed-whether-the-introduction-of-the-champions/) [Karl-Heinz Rummenigge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-heinz-rummenigge/) [Browse all 2,649 Champion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/champion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have to be No. 1 pound-for-pound champion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Islam Makhachev" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/i-have-to-be-no-1-pound-for-pound-champion/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Champion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/i-have-to-be-no-1-pound-for-pound-champion/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/islam-makhachev-6446_champion_i-have-to-be-no-1-pound-for-pound-champi_1244.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/islam-makhachev-6446_champion_i-have-to-be-no-1-pound-for-pound-champi_1244.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c8/islam-makhachev-6446_champion_i-have-to-be-no-1-pound-for-pound-champi_1244.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have to be No. 1 pound-for-pound champion.” — 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": "I have to be No. 1...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/i-have-to-be-no-1-pound-for-pound-champion/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/i-have-to-be-no-1-pound-for-pound-champion/#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 } } ] } ```