Islam Makhachev is indeed slated for a major fight, though perhaps not the specific opponent many fight fans anticipated.
UFC CEO Dana White announced on Tuesday that the current lightweight champion will be relinquishing his title to move up to the 170-pound division. There, he is set to challenge the newly crowned welterweight champion, Jack Della Maddalena.
This potential move has been subject to rumors for several months. Makhachev had expressed interest in pursuing a second title but wished to avoid fighting his close friend, Belal Muhammad. This became a non-issue last Saturday when Muhammad lost the welterweight belt to Della Maddalena, clearing the path for the Makhachev vs. Della Maddalena bout. The date and location for this fight are yet to be determined.
While this matchup presents an opportunity for Makhachev to bolster his pound-for-pound standing and for Della Maddalena to achieve a new level of prominence, not everyone is pleased about Makhachev`s departure from the lightweight ranks. Undefeated featherweight champion Ilia Topuria had vacated his title back in February, specifically targeting the 155-pound division. This move had created significant buzz and anticipation for a potential clash between arguably the two best fighters in the world.
Instead of that highly anticipated bout, Makhachev is scheduled to face Della Maddalena. Meanwhile, Ilia Topuria is now set to compete against Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 317 on June 28. That fight will be for the vacant lightweight title.
