Islam Makhachev Warned about Long Waiting Line if He Loses to Jack Della Maddalena

Jack Della Maddalena, the welterweight champion will be standing between Islam Makhachev and his double-champ status.

Islam Makhachev Warned about Long Waiting Line if He Loses to Jack Della Maddalena

Ilia Topuria doesn't want to grant Islam Makhachev a title shot (via Imago)

The rivalry between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria continues to intensify, with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Topuria boldly moved up divisions to challenge Makhachev for the lightweight championship, aiming to cement his legacy. However, Makhachev surprisingly vacated the lightweight belt, shifting his focus towards the challenging welterweight division instead.

If Makhachev loses at welterweight, he risks ending up without any championship gold or division to dominate moving forward. Recently, during an interview with Alvaro Colmenero, Topuria was asked about giving Makhachev a title opportunity if he loses. He responded:

If he loses, I will give him nothing. Let him get in line.

Historically, the lightweight division has always been stacked with talent, and the current landscape is no different at all. Top contenders like Arman Tsarukyan, Justin Gaethje, and Paddy Pimblett are all eager to face the UFC 317 winner next. Tsarukyan has already confirmed that he will be fully prepared as the backup fighter for Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira this Saturday.

Gaethje has also warned the UFC to give him the next title shot, highlighting his recent performances, especially against Rafael Fiziev. The veteran believes the promotion owes him that opportunity, and if denied, he is prepared to retire from professional fighting altogether (at least according to Ali Abdelaziz). Meanwhile, Pimblett holds a strong chance for a title shot due to his long-standing, heated rivalry with Topuria.

If the former featherweight champion defeats Oliveira this weekend, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him face the Scouser next. Topuria believes a fight against Pimblett could become one of the highest-grossing bouts in UFC history due to their heated rivalry. It will be fascinating to see what direction the UFC takes following the highly anticipated result of UFC 317.

Islam Makhachev’s coach clears the air on ducking allegations against Ilia Topuria

Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria are currently two of the most dominant and well-rounded fighters on the UFC roster. Both possess the rare ability to knock out or submit their opponents effortlessly, making them dangerous in every single exchange. Fans passionately hoped to witness them collide in a thrilling superfight, but unfortunately, that highly anticipated showdown has not materialized yet.

Islam Makhachev's coach talks about ducking allegations from Ilia Topuria
Islam Makhachev’s coach talks about ducking allegations from Ilia Topuria (via X)

Following Makhachev’s title vacation, many accused him of running away from the rising threat, Topuria. However, in a recent interview, the Georgian-Spanish defended Makhachev, explaining that the brutal weight cut was the main reason for moving up. In a recent podcast appearance, Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, also addressed the situation and shared his own honest perspective.

No, it’s not a weight issue, it’s a legacy issue. He didn’t want to fight Topuria because the image of him fighting another featherweight wasn’t in it for him, okay? Everything for Topuria and nothing for Islam. But, now that the welterweight title was open, that’s why he wanted to wait for that fight to happen between Jack [Della Maddalena] and Belal [Muhammad]. Let’s see what happens if they both win.

Makhachev and his team have been talking about wanting the second belt long before Topuria rose to the top. The pound-for-pound king wanted to become the double champion and achieve something that his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov never did. With the UFC not giving him that opportunity, the fighter had to resort to vacating the lightweight title.

Currently, Makhachev is focused on fighting Jack Della Maddalena next and understands the danger that the Aussie brings. In his last performance, JDM did great against Belal Muhammad to become the new champion. With his confidence and momentum, it will be a tough challenge for Makhachev to beat Della Maddalena and start his welterweight reign.