Islam Makhachev Called Out for Putting Welterweight Division on Halt With Inactivity

Joaquin Buckley calls out Islam Makhachev and the entire welterweight top 10 for major lack of activity and no upcoming announcements.

Islam Makhachev Called Out for Putting Welterweight Division on Halt With Inactivity

Joaquin Buckley calls out Islam Makhachev (via Bloody Elbow, MMA Fighting)

Islam Makhachev cemented his UFC pound-for-pound No. 1 status with a dominant win over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 and also claimed the welterweight title. The result was followed by several contenders emerging with recent victories and pushing for a championship opportunity.

However, no major welterweight fight has been announced, a situation that has caught the attention of Joaquin Buckley. At UFC 322, the 170lbs division also saw movement as Carlos Prates knocked out former champion Leon Edwards, while Michael Morales stopped then No. 1 contender Sean Brady in a dominant finish.

Both victories altered the title landscape and added pressure to the championship picture. Soon after, Ian Garry strengthened his position by defeating Belal Muhammad via unanimous decision at UFC Qatar.

Makhachev has been vocal about favoring welterweight legend Kamaru Usman for the first title defense of his welterweight reign. However, Usman has recorded only one win since 2021, raising questions about his immediate eligibility for a title. That gap between preference and recent results has added uncertainty at the top level. The situation set the stage for Buckley’s comments about a stagnant 170-pound division.

Right now, the division is on standstill. This is crazy. Look, the matchmakers know their job; they know better than me. Right now, they got the hottest division and ain’t nobody fighting. You got Islam out there playing Wrestleball. You got Prates out there partying and clubbing. You got Morales out there twerking and twirling.

Joaquin Buckley via X

For the unversed, wrestleball is a popular variation of basketball in Dagestan and has developed into a major regional sport. The game combines basketball scoring with wrestling elements, allowing players to grapple, take down, and physically tackle opponents on the court. Physical contact is unrestricted while teams attempt to score baskets. Makhachev has been seen playing wrestleball on multiple occasions.

Another major setback for the welterweight division came with undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov being sidelined for an additional nine to ten months with a second surgery on his knee. The Kazakh was viewed as one of the strongest title contenders in 2024 and was widely expected to challenge for the belt.

However, his momentum stalled after that period as he has remained inactive since a decision win at UFC 310 in 2024 against Garry. On the other hand, Buckley has secured notable wins over Colby Covington and Stephen Thompson, keeping his name relevant around the welterweight picture.

Despite recent setbacks, he continues to rise as a legitimate contender in a division marked by uneven activity and limited clarity in matchmaking. His callout of Islam Makhachev and the broader field highlights growing frustration over the lack of movement at 170 pounds.

Ian Garry’s coach sends a warning to Islam Makhachev

At UFC 322, Islam Makhachev’s dominant win over Jack Della Maddalena sparked renewed questions about whether anyone at welterweight can realistically challenge the Dagestani champion. His control, pressure, and wrestling-heavy approach once again appeared overwhelming at the highest level.

Ian Garry’s head coach, Diego Lima, believes the Irish contender is uniquely positioned to overpower Makhachev.

Islam Makhachev
Islam Makhachev (via X)

Garry has repeatedly positioned himself as a deserving title challenger through recent wins and consistent calls for a championship opportunity. He has publicly committed to defeating Islam Makhachev in a decisive fashion, aiming to diminish the champion’s aura inside the Octagon through performance alone. Lima recently echoed that outlook while assessing the current welterweight landscape and its leading threats.

The division today is one of the toughest in the UFC. This division is truly impressive. It’s a division where it’s hard to pick a favorite in almost every fight. But I believe that, without a doubt, the fight to make for the title is Ian Garry. For everything. For what he’s shown, who he’s faced, how he’s faced them, the short notice on which he accepted fights, the intelligence he’s demonstrated, and the fact he sells. He sells a lot. I believe he has all the characteristics and requirements to face Islam Makhachev for the welterweight 170 title.

Diego Lima via MMA Fighting

Belal Muhammad has previously trained alongside Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov to elevate his wrestling and grappling foundation. That experience highlighted the preparation required to deal with the Dagestani style. Having already defeated Muhammad, Garry has pointed to that result as positioning himself as the contender best equipped to diminish that suffocating approach.

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