Islam Makhachev vs. Jack Della Maddalena Fight Date Leaked by UFC Legend

A date may be set for the 170-pound UFC PPV title showdown between Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena.

Islam Makhachev vs. Jack Della Maddalena Fight Date Leaked by UFC Legend

Islam Makhachev vs Jack Della Maddalena UFC title scrap might have a date (Source: X)

Islam Makhachev is widely regarded as the greatest reigning 155-pounder with a stout number of defenses and a long-time streak. Now, he is relinquishing that for a move up to the welterweight limits; he is to face new champ Jack Della Maddalena in a PPV title showdown, sometime later this year.

Makhachev has been wanting to rack up the multi-division glory and a second belt for a while now. However, his kinship with friend and former UFC 170-pound king Belal Muhammad meant that he was unwilling to go the distance.

Now that Jack Della Maddalena has snagged that crown along with nabbing a $50,000 FOTN bonus after the PPV headliner inside Bell Centre in Montreal, the Dagestani has an open field. According to former double-champ Henry Cejudo, the Makhachev vs. JDM PPV title affair now has a date:

Obviously, we have JDM, …We have JDM vs. uh, ….versus Islam Makhachev. Their fight’s gonna take place October 20. I don’t know where — the location — but they are gonna fight in October.

Henry Cejudo on ShadLion’s “Pound for Pound” Show (🎥: @pound4poundshow)

Weirdly enough, fight fans and enthusiasts have pointed out that October 20 would be a Monday; ‘Triple C’ might have indicated within that frame. For now, there is also no guarantee this is the way to go. UFC CEO Dana White gave his go-ahead for such a fight. But there are also others waiting who have put more ballot fights in as a 170-pounder and deserve a shot.

The No. 1-ranked Sean Brady is waiting in the wings; a more resurgent Ian Machado Garry, while not undefeated, has the stripes to make it to the top seed. There is also the previous top seed name Shavkat Rakhmonov, who has had his promise for Jack Della Maddalena’s gold.

Islam Makhachev has almost cleared out everything as a longtime reigning 155-pounder and earned his placement after UFC 315, given his momentum. He thus has his promise for a crack at the 170-pound crown, but in all actuality, Ilia Topuria remains the bigger fight. Team Makhachev has an idea about that.

UFC removed Islam Makhachev from 155-pound competition because they wanted Ilia Topuria to become champion

A few weeks back, head litigator and UFC CBO Hunter Campbell visited Dagestan and Dubai; Team Makhachev’s Umar Nurmagomedov disclosed it wasn’t to make a PPV fight booking. Instead, it was to make Islam Makhachev relinquish his 155-pound strap in favor of a move up.

Islam Makhachev's training partner talks on why he had to vacate
Islam Makhachev’s training partner talks on why he had to vacate (Source: X)

While Jack Della Maddalena sits in his immediate future offering, his vacant strap is now up for grabs for the UFC 317 PPV event. Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira fight for the vacant crown during IFW Festivities week, June 28, T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Topuria, while not boasting gargantuan PPV stats, can sell fights and rivalries.

On the other hand, UFC Execs always need a title up for grabs to sell a Pay-per-view card, and Makhachev was unwilling to vacate. ‘The Young Eagle’ surmised Campbell’s motives were inclining more to making wiggle room for Topuria fighting for a belt, rather than ‘Islam Makhachev’.

He flew out, and honestly, I don’t even know if I’m allowed to say this, but they wanted Islam to move up, …They wanted to make Topuria champ at 155. Not because Islam wanted to move up, but because they wanted [Ilia] to be the champ there. They believe he can really sell fights…The plan was if Belal won, Islam would defend his title at 155 against Topuria at lightweight…But now that Belal’s out, Islam will likely move up to 170 and become a double champ, God willing.

Umar Nurmagomedov in a recent media interview (🎥: @AdamZubayraev for ‘Hustle’ Vlog: UMAR NURMAGOMEDOV; H/T: @RedCorner_MMA)

Nurmagomedov said Makhachev can always come back down for his belt; it would be interesting to see him contend at such a pace, though. That’s because UFC Execs always save him for ginormous October pay-per-view offerings in Abu Dhabi. Hence, he is only a mildly proactive champ.

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