Islam Makhachev is making the jump to the welterweight division, with a fight now scheduled against the newly crowned champion, Jack Della Maddalena. The specific date and venue for this significant matchup are yet to be announced.
Confirming his official transition to the 170-pound weight class, UFC CEO Dana White revealed that Makhachev is relinquishing his lightweight championship belt to pursue a title in a different division. This decision paves the way for a new lightweight champion to be crowned when Ilia Topuria takes on Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June.
Makhachev`s path towards potentially securing a second world title was cleared after his close friend and regular training partner, Belal Muhammad, suffered a defeat to Della Maddalena at UFC 315 just last weekend.
Previously, Makhachev had stated he would not move up to welterweight as long as Muhammad held the title. However, this stance changed following Della Maddalena`s impressive performance and unanimous decision victory that earned him the belt.
Immediately after his triumph, Della Maddalena publicly welcomed a fight against Makhachev. His wish is now set to become reality, with the highly anticipated clash expected to occur later this year.
Makhachev enters this bout ranked as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the sport, with the ambitious goal of becoming a two-division champion.
White confirmed that both competitors have agreed to the fight. The remaining details involve determining the date and location. Della Maddalena has already expressed his desire for the fight to take place in his home country of Australia.
Regardless of where and exactly when, the Della Maddalena vs. Makhachev fight is slated for later this year. It marks a significant moment as the longest-reigning lightweight champion in UFC history attempts to claim championship gold in a new category.
